What are the sufferings of Christ? Peter gives us two indications of what this means. In the beginning of his first epistle, Peter says this:
As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. (1 Peter 1:10-11 NASB).
Here Peter linked the sufferings of Christ with salvation. In chapter five, Peter refers to himself as, “your fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ” (1 Peter 5:1 NASB). Considering these two passages, I believe “the sufferings of Christ” refers to His betrayal by His own people, the Jews, who handed Him over to the Romans to be crucified.
So why does this matter? Let’s view a couple more verses. In chapter 4, Peter writes:
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing (1 Peter 4:12-13 NASB).
Peter now refers to the recipients of his letter as those who are sharing in Christ’s sufferings. That is, also being betrayed and persecuted by their own people, their fellow Jews. Something we see throughout the New Testament.
In his second letter to the church at Corinth, Paul applies this suffering to himself, and later, to the recipients of his letter. “For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:5 NASB). In this letter, Paul speaks of the horrendous persecution they faced in Asia Minor, telling his readers that, because of their suffering, they were able to comfort others who were also suffering, namely, the believers at Corinth.
Why does this matter? We all face trials of many kinds. But I am very grateful that I don’t share in “the sufferings of Christ”, where those I once called my own, do everything in their power to have me killed. Knowing what the apostolic believers went through, puts my suffering into perspective.