God's will for our lives is not happiness

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Pie

Pie

Senior Member
#1
May 21, 2011
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#1

Incorporating historical studies in with scripture does lend us richer insight into the documents we read. I decided to start diving into the gospel of Mark first. Why? Well, Mark is the earliest of the synoptic gospels dated between A.D. 60-70. Mark's gospel was written to preserve apostolic tradition and strengthen the Church in a time of incredible suffering and martyrdom. It's often referred to the passion narrative with an extended introduction because it focuses heavily on Jesus's suffering and resurrection. John Mark’s audience is believed to be the Christians who were being ruthlessly murdered by Emperor Nero after the great fire of Rome in A.D. 64.



Christians are no strangers to suffering. Jesus, himself, was no stranger to suffering. Some Christians like to essentially brag about how blessed they are, as if they somehow earned it. And it can make you ask God, "What did I do to deserve this?" It's true that our decisions have consequences. But clearly, some things are out of our control. And when these things happen, don't assume it's God punishing you or ignoring you.

You're not alone.

Tacitus, the Roman historian, wrote this about what Nero did to Christians.
“Neither human resources, nor imperial munificence, nor appeasement of the gods, eliminated sinister suspicions that the fire had been instigated. To suppress this rumor, Nero fabricated scapegoats— and punished with every refinement the notoriously depraved Christians (as they were popularly called) … First, Nero had self-acknowledged Christians arrested. Then, on their information, large numbers of others were condemned— not so much for incendiarism as for their anti-social tendencies. Their deaths were made farcical. Dressed in wild animals’ skins, they were torn to pieces by dogs, or crucified, or made into torches to be ignited after dark as substitutes for daylight. Nero provided his Gardens for the spectacle, and exhibited displays in the Circus, at which he mingled in the crowd— or stood in a chariot, dressed as a charioteer. Despite their guilt as Christians, and the ruthless punishment it deserved, the victims were pitied. For it was felt that they were being sacrificed to one man’s brutality rather than to the national interest.”
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Our earliest brothers and sisters were dressed in animal skins and torn to shreds. They were crucified. They were made into torches to be ignited after dark as substitutes for daylight for Nero's garden parties. Yet, they continued to hold on to the hope within them. Why? They believed it was true. They believed Jesus really had risen from the dead to the point they were willing to be tortured and killed. They watched their fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, daughters, and sons die with them. These were people within 35 years of Jesus’ death. The tomb was empty. They believed wholeheartedly that Jesus had risen. And they, along with the disciples, gave up everything for it.


God's will for our lives is not happiness like American culture tends to convey - to live a happy and fulfilling life. God's will for our lives is that we come to know him, the one in whose image we are made.
 
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