Is He Really Enough?
“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 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 life as your victor’s crown.
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death. (Revelation 2:8-11, NIV)
Smyrna’s letter and situation are jarring to us. I shared with my children a summary of their situation and Jesus’ response prior to Sunday’s message. They both looked at me with question marks on their faces. The conversation that followed was fruitful and enlightening. Questions like, “So they weren’t doing anything wrong but Jesus let Satan jail them?” and “Why did Jesus let their suffering continue?” were some of the theological queries that came up. I did my best to answer their questions in ways that didn’t resolve the very real tension of the situation. We talked about the mystery of the persecuted church in general. The more I reflect on Smyrna’s church and the suffering it was enduring, the more in some ways the mystery of Jesus’ letter grows. How can the Sovereign of History allow suffering among His own faithful followers? And as much as it would be hard to explain this happening once over the course of the history of the church, it is in fact the norm for the church in most of its 2,000 years plus of existence. The puzzle is in the response of Jesus to the suffering. He indicates that more is on the way and that His promise is life; a life that the second death cannot touch. But wait, isn’t that the promise He makes to everyone He saves? Yes. And that is the point that has come home to me more emphatically as I’ve reflected on the letter’s import. Jesus’ initial promise to His followers is enough. Jesus is enough. No matter what comes in our followership of Him. He is sufficient. His promise of eternal life is enough reward. His promise of freedom is enough incentive. His promise of Himself to the believer by the Holy Spirit’s indwelling is worthwhile. Come what may, He is sufficient. In every season of life, in every and any situation, no matter the pain or suffering involved, He is enough. How can I say this? Not because I’ve experienced much pain or persecution in my following of Jesus. My suffering for Jesus has been nothing when compared to what Christ followers face all over the globe even as I type. What’s more, it has been the perennial reality of the church to suffer deeply for her Savior. And that is the proof beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is enough. For such suffering has never extinguished the church. Such suffering, and the faithfulness of the followers of Jesus even in the face of certain death has been the force God uses to multiply the church. If Jesus was insufficient, suffering would have brought an end to the church before it was a century old. Jesus’ sufficiency is the testimony of His church spreading out over the globe despite the persecution and martyrdom of many of His followers.
Finally, this question must be turned over in our own hearts. Many of us have enjoyed relatively easy paths in following Jesus. If He allows suffering and pain, if persecution comes, do we have a deep enough grasp of the sufficiency of Jesus to hold us even in turbulent times? God grant us such a deep understanding of the sufficiency of our Savior that nothing could dissuade us as His followers. Remind us when the suffering comes that it is You holding us. Amen.
Bonus song: He Will Hold Me Fast