Bible Passage: “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.” (Philippians 1:29-30)
Scripture Reading: Mark 10:38-39; Galatians 6:17
Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy is my favourite movie series. It was an incredible work of art that won seventeen Academy Awards.
One part that was most astounding to me was The Battle at Helm’s Deep. The filmmakers spent more than three months filming that one segment alone. The battle scenes were shot mostly at night and through the winter, while the production team used both natural and artificial rain to simulate heavy weather conditions.
The actors described it as one of the hardest things they have ever done.
Viggo Mortensen, who played Aragorn, described it this way:
“When the sun-starved denizens of Helm’s Deep ventured out into Wellington during the day, it was easy to spot a fellow creature of the night. Everybody had this sort of vampire life where we were passed out from exhaustion. You got outside on the street, and you’re all sort of pale and scratched-up and cross-eyed, and you recognize each other blocks away, like ‘There’s one!'”
At the end of the shoot, they all got shirts that said, “I survived Helm’s Deep.”
When they looked at each other after the shoot, they were able to say with conviction, “You understand me.”
One day we will look into Jesus’ eyes and say, “Oh, You understand me.”
He understands everything we have gone through, which can only unite our hearts with His.
But here may be the greatest gift that we get out of suffering:
One day, we will look into our Savior’s eyes, the One who gave Himself completely for our salvation, for our rescue. And He will look into our eyes. And then, I imagine He might say, “Oh, you understand me.”
We will understand Him!
Our suffering gives us a window into His suffering. We will be united in that shared suffering, and to be united with the King of kings is an honor greater than anything else we could ever know.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for giving me a small window into Your suffering on earth. I hold that privilege carefully. I treasure it. May I never forget that my suffering unites me with You in a way that nothing else can. I love You and am honored to be considered worthy to share in Your sufferings (Acts 5:41). Amen.
Reflection: How does it make you feel to know that your suffering helps you understand Jesus a little better? If knowing Jesus better is a result of suffering, how much suffering are you willing to endure?
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