Lenten Series on the Seven Churches of Revelation
From one family dinner, matriarch Grace Fusco (center) lost four of her family members: daughter Rita, sons Carmine, Vinny, and sister Maria. Grace, too, would die from COVID-19. Twenty relatives would have to be quarantined, unable to give a hug of comfort in this Italian-American family’s greatest time of suffering.
An inordinate amount of suffering has been the order of the day as we reflect on this pandemic that marked a year this week. But suffering does not have the final word for the Lenten Church. As we march through Lent—the forty-day journey of looking within and looking forward—toward Easter, we get through the pain with praise in view as seen in the church of Smyrna, one of the seven churches of Revelation 2. In our mini-series—the Lenten Churches of Revelation—we will see that Christ is coming back for his bride who persevered the hurt for the reward of a hug.
First, know that suffering is coming if you are the Lenten church. Don’t run; value it. Christ called Smyrna to look within and to reflect on the value of their suffering.
9 I know your afflictions and your poverty-- yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Rev. 2:9
The Smyrna Church was in a rich city, a beautiful city. It was like the beauty of Paris. But apart from the landscape, Smyrna was not a beautiful place if you were a Christian church. Smyrna was the center of Roman Emperor worship. Where they were situated, suffering was pandemic:
· Poverty is a part of the suffering of the church. Because they did not worship the Roman way, the Smyrna church was shut out of getting treated fairly in the marketplace.
· Slander is a part of the suffering church. Smyrna was ridiculed by the Jews because the Christians believed Christ is Messiah.
· Prison is part of the suffering of the church. To be Christian in Smyrna meant that at any time, you could be arrested.
· Finally, death is part of the suffering church. Polycarp, their pastor refused to burn a pinch of incense to the bust of Caesar. Rome responded with a fire at the stakes for Polycarp. He could have run but he didn’t.
Lenten Church, suffering is a mark of faith, a fellowship with Christ. Don’t run. Look within, reflect and persevere.
Look forward to the comfort coming for the Lenten church that values suffering.
Christ promised comfort for the suffering church who is fearless and faithful.
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. Rev.10,11
Christ can make that promise because He, the head of the church, has mastery over suffering.
· Christ is eternal. (v. 8).
· Christ is sovereign. (v. 10)
· Christ is a generous provider. (v. 10,11).
As he approached the fire, Polycarp looked within and valued his suffering. He looked forward to his witness and reward. Listen to his final prayer:
"Lord God Almighty, Father of our lord Jesus Christ, I praise thee that thou hast judged me worthy of this day and of this hour… to participate in the number of thy witnesses, and in the cup of thy Christ."
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For the Lenten Church, pain may be part of the journey, but it is not the destination. Praise is. If things remain on course for our pandemic come back, soon, hugs will replace the hurt.
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