The Fellowship of Suffering
“Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”
This is Jesus’ question to James and John, recorded in Mark 10:35-40.
During communion, I found myself praying for a receptivity not only to the blessing communion brings but also the discipline it invites. The phrase “the fellowship of His suffering” rose up from my Spirit and I began to commune with the Holy Spirit around this and came to our scripture today.
“Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”
‘Yes’ -at times- can be such a presumptuous answer. The longer we live with Christ the greater our understanding of the cost required to serve Him. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak; yet, when sought, grace is found. Jesus promised to never leave us alone, helpless or comfortless.
The bible tells us in Revelation 13:8 that Jesus was a lamb slain from the foundation of the world. His kingdom was prepared from the beginning in Matthew 25:34 and later that His was a body prepared. Jesus, Hebrews records, delighted to do the will of His Father (Hebrews 10:5-7). The Apostle Paul tells us, giving us an example to imitate, that his greatest press is to know Christ and the fellowship of His sufferings. (Philippians 3:7-12.)
From Williams New Testament translation we read from Philippians chapter 3 beginning with verse ten ~
“Yes, I long to come to know Him, that is, the power of his resurrection and so to share with Him His sufferings as to be continuously transformed by His death, in the hope of attaining, in some measure, the resurrection that lifts me out from among the dead. It is not a fact that I have already secured it or already reached perfection, but I am pressing on to see if I can capture it, the ideal for which I was captured by Christ Jesus.”
The idea of dying daily is seen in Paul’s press. The continuing process of transformation proceeds only through our choices of offering yielded obedience to our Lord. Then, salvation from the temptation of sin flows in grace and peace that He alone brings.
This work yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who are being trained through the discipline of denial.
As those called, chosen and set apart, there is a cross for each of us to bear. There is a cup to drink from and a baptism to engage.
It is through these experiences that we are shaped into the servants of our Lord. That place of intimacy is not found by seeking positions of prominence and prestige, as we all do, in immaturity and ignorance. We learn this is not to be so among us. Rather a life of submitted humility, not to be served, but to serve and give our life as a ransom for many.
The story continues, verse 39 of Mark 10 ~
“They said to Him,”We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “the cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.”
Just for further contemplation ~ this Help Word Study reminds us baptism is a complete immersion. No dipping of the toes. And to clarify, I speak of the required total life discipleship that is immersed into becoming one with Him.
907 baptízō – properly, "submerge" (Souter), i.e. baptize (immerse, literally, "dip under"). 907 (baptizō) implies submersion ("immersion") in contrast with 472/antéxomai ("sprinkle").
[As the root of 907/baptízō, 911 (báptō) signifies "dip under," "go below" which LS lists as a primary sense, along with "plunge, sink." 911 (baptō) is even used in antiquity of drowning.]