By Ernest Martono
In my hand, I held a strand of wire, carefully woven into a thorny crown about the size of my palm. It looked eerily similar to the crown worn by Jesus during his crucifixion. I had smoothed the edges to make it safer for others to hold, but the sharpness was still there. Grip it too tightly, and it would hurt.
During the retreat, our facilitator guided us into a moment of reflection. This crown of thorns had one purpose: to bring us into an encounter with God. But as I stared at it, I wondered—what meaning was I supposed to find in this?
One thing was clear. No matter how “safe” it was, it still caused pain. So I tightened my grip, hoping to catch even a glimpse of the suffering Jesus endured on his way to atone for my sins. But the moment the pain hit, my instinct was immediate—I let go.
That’s when it struck me: I really hate pain.
If following Jesus were as simple as holding this small crown and feeling a bit of discomfort, I wouldn’t hesitate. Why? Because that pain would still be under my control. I could decide how much to endure without truly denying myself or confronting my own flesh.
If only it were that easy.
Jesus repeatedly warned his disciples that they would suffer because of him. That raises a question—why did he keep saying it? Was he glorifying suffering?
Of course not.
Jesus wasn’t chasing pain. If anything, suffering was the one chasing him—and it would do the same to his followers. He said, “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:20).
He wasn’t trying to scare them. He was preparing them. Not to love pain, but to endure it.
Dismantling the Illusion of Safety
Following God doesn’t guarantee an easy life. Jesus made sure his disciples wouldn’t fall into that illusion. Yet we often believe the opposite—that the closer we are to God, the smoother life becomes. Like we’ve unlocked some kind of cheat code.
Then again reality says otherwise.
Walking with Jesus often leads to rejection from a world that already rejected him. And he was upfront about it, so we could stand firm—like a house built on rock when the storm comes. But resilience doesn’t mean becoming immune to pain. It means remaining standing even when suffering hits.
“They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me” (John 15:21).
The disciples didn’t suffer because they did something wrong. But that doesn’t mean all suffering proves faith either. If someone suffers because they harm others, that’s simply a consequence. But when they lived faithfully, shared the Gospel, and still faced opposition, Jesus made it clear—it wasn’t their fault. The world hated him first.
This perspective matters. Without it, suffering can easily turn into self-pity. But with it, suffering gains context: for the disciples, suffering because of Jesus became a sign of closeness to him.
And if the world ever stopped rejecting them? That might mean they had become too comfortable with it—too aligned with it.
The Advocate
Let’s be honest—suffering for the sake of faith isn’t pleasant. Staying faithful when your beliefs clash with the world is hard. But Jesus didn’t leave his followers to deal with it alone.
He sent the Advocate.
“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me” (John 15:26–27).
Notice this: it is the Spirit of Truth—The Holy Spirit—who testifies about Jesus.
When the world questions, challenges, or even accuses, the Spirit moves first. The disciples weren’t meant to rely on their own strength. Their role was simple—obey, follow, and bear witness. Not initiate. Not control. Just remain faithful.
Following Jesus is never easy. But these verses reveal something important: we don’t suffer for him as if we chose it—we suffer because we walk with him.
He didn’t invite us to chase pain. He invited us into his love. And that love carries us somewhere greater.
Easter, which we recently celebrated, reminds us of that movement. Fasting and abstaining aren’t about proving how much pain we can handle. They’re about learning self-control.
Loving Jesus will lead us down difficult paths. But we walk them knowing where they lead—and who is waiting at the end.
Our faith will be questioned.
“Why fast?”
“Why step away from social media?”
“Why give more?”
The world won’t understand suffering in Jesus’ name. But that’s not the point.
Our conviction stands firm: the Holy Spirit is testifying through our lives. Not to win arguments, but to confirm our faithfulness.
Our witness doesn’t stand alone—it walks together with Jesus’ own.
That small crown of wire still rested in my hand. But this time, I didn’t try to grip it tightly. Because being a disciple isn’t about controlling pain or seeking it out.
It’s about walking with Jesus—even when suffering comes. And strangely enough, that realization brought peace.
Because Jesus has already walked that road.
And, he’s waiting at the end of it.
Read Also:
Windows on Easter
Your life may, at times, feel as though it has slipped beyond all reasonable governance. Yet there exists a story, a most profound and enduring testimony, which bears witness that you have never, nor shall ever walk alone.
Our Daily Bread Ministries in Indonesia is supported by the freewill offering of individuals in Indonesia, who through their gifts enable us to continue to bring the life-changing wisdom of the Bible to many here. We are not funded by any church or organisation.
