“From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” (Matthew 16:21)
Like it or not, there are roads we must walk down, crosses we must bear, cups we must drink. There is no getting around it.
But if we are the Lord’s, even the valley of the shadow of death can be passed through. On the other side of the greatest sorrow there is joy for the child of God. Weeping is temporary; it only lasts for a night. But the dawn will break and with it all tears will be wiped away and everlasting joy shall be upon our heads.
Somehow, when Jesus spoke of what was before Him, Peter fixated on the suffering and death. He seemed to miss the best part – “raised again the third day.” Paul had his share of suffering in this life, but he was wise enough to focus on what would come after. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:17.18)
For the joy that was set before Him, Christ endured the cross. (Heb. 12:2) Let us look to Jesus and Paul and all those who wisely look beyond the sufferings of this present world, to the glory which is bound to follow.