Fellowship of His Sufferings

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

As I read the Gospel of Matthew in my person devotions, I was once again impressed with the number of women at the foot of the cross. Many were there. Of the men, only John is recorded as being at the cross. What I gathered from the reading is that the women were willing to stay, watch, and weep. One might say that they shared in the suffering of Jesus, like Paul said in Philippians 3.10. Literally it says, koinonia - true fellowship - of His sufferings.

I once read an interesting story about singer, songwriter, Tommy Hicks. He attended a professional golf tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina. Fans had gathered at one of the tees to watch Ernie Els, many of them hopeful to get his autograph. They called his name, holding out their programs and pens. But Els paid no attention to them. He was intent on his practice.

But all that changed when Tommy called out, “Mr. Els, you and I have something in common. My son has autism.” Without another swing, Els handed the driver to his caddie and went straight to Tommy. The two talked for quite some time sharing stories. Mr. Els had established a foundation for autism research because his son has autism too. 

While the fans were unable to get the golfer’s attention, the man who shared in the fellowship of his suffering got his immediate attention. 

To have fellowship in the sufferings of Christ doesn’t mean you have to experience everything He did to be identified with Him. It simply means that whatever you are suffering, Christ is in true communion - fellowship - with you all the way! 

There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. Matthew 27.55-56