"He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again." - Mark 8:31
Many of us want to know why God allows Christians to suffer. Now notice, Jesus, who is God never said that life as a Christian is easy. He said it came with responsibility - but we will overcome them:
"After calling the crowd together with his disciples, Jesus said to them, “All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and follow me." - Mark 8:34.
What does it mean to say no to yourself? Let's see the amplified version of Mark 8:34 :
"Jesus called the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]." - Mark 8:34 AMP
Believing in Jesus means that you are now becoming an enemy to the world and now taking a position as a son of God. Jesus said that the world will hate us(John 15:19) therefore it will try to destroy our faith. Satan is the god of this world and will try all in his power to get you out of eternal life. Jesus also said that we should remember that we are in the world but are not of it.
"If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." - John 15:19
Jesus (God) has chosen us out of the world, and Satan and God are enemies. The world hates us - meaning Satan hates us too (2 Corinthians 4:4). Mark 8:34 also said when we follow Jesus we are meant to put aside selfish interests. This basically means to stop thinking like 'Hey, God I want this, I want that". Selfishness leads to us departing God. Our own desires make our own temptations, then make our own sin. How do I know this? See below:
"But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed." - James 1:14 BSB
By our own selfish interests, in other words. So Jesus was warning us about our own desires. Now, Satan doesn't realise this, but our sufferings, may be allowed by God to prepare us for something great. Mark 8:34 also says 'ready to endure whatever is to come'. Some of us aren't that type. We're all 'Why is this happening' or 'Why is that happening.' It may be for your own good and God has given you the power to endure it. We should be ready to endure whatever is to come - because anything it is that we face will never be as great as what Jesus faced. Always remember that. Mark 8:34 also said 'conforming to My example in living' which is mentioned allot in Paul's letters. Having the same attitude and mindset as Christ. SEE Philippians 2:5. We must be bound to Christ. Jesus' was hated by the world - and died a death that if He hadn't, we would have to because we have all sinned. Bearing that Cross means that we will suffer but not in vain - see 1 Peter 5:10
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