Is suffering merely a trial we should avoid? Through the life of the Apostle Paul and the theology of the cross, Pastor David Jang illuminates how suffering is transformed into a glorious hope. Discover, through this column, the mystery of the “remaining sufferings” hidden within the Christian life—and the true power of the gospel.
We
quietly gaze upon Rembrandt—the painter of light—and his masterpiece The
Apostle Paul in Prison, painted in 1627. The Paul on the canvas is far from
the heroic warrior we might imagine. A cold stone floor, an aged and weary
body, and a solitary figure seated in darkness, cut off from the world. Yet
what dominates the painting is not the darkness. A single beam of light pours
in through a window, illuminating Paul’s face and the letter he is in the midst
of writing. His body is confined, but his soul—Rembrandt testifies with every
stroke—shines freer and more intensely than ever.
Today,
we all too easily substitute “peace” as a synonym for blessing, and “suffering”
as a synonym for curse. But through his preaching, Pastor David Jang presents
the very paradox revealed in Rembrandt’s Paul: “Suffering is not
something to escape, but an inevitable gateway to glory.” For modern
believers who pursue comfort, this message comes as a sharp wake-up call—and at
the same time, an overture of deep consolation.
The
Necessity of the Cross on the Narrow Road
The
Christian journey is not a leisurely stroll along a flower-lined path. Pastor
David Jang, drawing from the words of John 15, emphasizes that just as the
world hates the light, the suffering faced by those who follow Christ is not
optional but destiny. Because Jesus Himself walked that narrow and
rugged road first, it is only natural that we, as His disciples, encounter
thorns along the way.
When
hardship strikes, many believers shrink back, asking themselves, “What did I do
wrong?” Yet when we view suffering through the lens of Scripture and meditation
on God’s Word, we see that its true nature is not punishment, but refining.
Just as iron passes through fire to become pure gold, believers—amid opposition
and trials—come to recognize their weakness and learn to rely on God alone. It
is a painful process, but it is also the most powerful instrument of grace:
removing impurities hidden within us and restoring the holy image of God. The
depth of faith that can never be learned in comfort is formed precisely in the
valley of suffering.
“Filling
Up” the Remaining Sufferings of Christ in My Flesh
The
confession Paul would have written with pen in hand—like the Paul in
Rembrandt’s prison—especially in Colossians, hurls a wave-like question at us
today:
“Now
I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and I fill up in my flesh what is
lacking in the afflictions of Christ for the sake of His body, which is the
church.” (Colossians 1:24)
Pastor
David Jang skillfully unfolds the meaning of “the remaining sufferings of
Christ.” This does not imply that Jesus’ saving work was
incomplete. If Christ, the Head, accomplished salvation through the cross, then
the church—His body—is given a holy invitation to bear the labor pains that
come with proclaiming the gospel on this earth. Paul could rejoice even on the
cold prison floor because he was convinced that his pain was not a meaningless
loss, but a glorious calling—participation in God’s redemptive history.
The
injustices we endure, the rejection we face when sharing the gospel, the tears
we shed while serving the church—none of these fall to the ground and
disappear. They become bricks that build the kingdom of God, and fertilizer
that brings life to someone’s soul. Pastor David Jang presents Paul’s life as a
model modern believers should imitate, urging us to grow into mature
faith—receiving suffering not as a reason for complaint, but as evidence of our
calling.
The
Revelation of the Mystery: The Hope of Glory Living Within Us
What
is the greatest gift given to believers who pass through the tunnel of
suffering? It is the joy of discovering a mystery. The mystery
hidden for ages and generations—“Christ in you.” Pastor David Jang
insists that this mystery is the only foundation that enables believers to rise
again without despair, even in tribulation.
The
indwelling of the Holy Spirit is not a vague doctrine. It is a tangible power
experienced in real life. When Paul declared in Romans that “the sufferings of
this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that will be
revealed,” it was not because he only stared at a distant heaven in the future.
It was because he was already living in the present reality of the risen Lord
at work within him—the hope of glory he possessed even now. Suffering may cause
the outer person to waste away, but it renews the inner person day by day,
increasing the weight of glory within.
The
Holy Spirit helps our weakness, and with groanings too deep for words
intercedes for us. This theological insight becomes a powerful comfort to
believers who feel abandoned and alone in hardship. We are never orphans. Even
in the very center of suffering, God is nearer than ever—fulfilling His will
and carrying forward His purposes.
Ultimately,
the heart of Pastor David Jang’s message returns to the hope of
resurrection. Without the cross there is no resurrection, and without
suffering there is no glory. Like the light that fell upon Paul’s prison in
Rembrandt’s painting, the darkness called suffering becomes the backdrop that
makes God’s grace shine more clearly.
Are
you in the middle of suffering today? Then do not lose heart. You are not
merely enduring pain—you are participating as a leading actor in God’s great
drama of salvation. Like Paul, and like the saints who went before us, lift
your eyes to the radiant glory that will be forged through this suffering. When
the eyes of faith are opened, your life will be transformed—not into mere
peace, but into a victorious journey that goes beyond it.
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