“We Are Worth The Birth Pains”

1 Peter 2:19–21 ¹⁹For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. ²⁰For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. ²¹For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

            We have three celebrations today.  We celebrate Easter as this is the fourth Sunday in Easter, so let’s continue to celebrate our risen Lord. We also celebrate mothers as this too is Mother’s Day.  We also celebrate with the mothers of the Catechism class their Confirmation, which makes their moms and all of us proud to celebrate. 

            It is very interesting that our Epistle reading deals with suffering.  Of course there are many times we do not do what is right and we sometimes suffer the pains and consequences of our actions.  A mother does the right thing and gives birth to her child, endures the pains of birth and sees the gracious gift from God.  It is this gift of a new life that helps the mother endure the great suffering of giving birth.  This is what a mother was called to do from the time of the fall of mankind to endure the pain of birth.

            We suffer great pains for those things God has called us to do and sometimes we think these pains are too much.  We suffer great pains when we force ourselves to endure the consequences of our sins.  And the Confirmands will tell you they suffered pains trying to learn all they had to so they could be confirmed.  Though they might not appreciate the pain they endured they will at least receive their parents respect and great appreciation.  Later on in life they might be able to look back and see the fruits of their labor.

            A mother can always look back and see that their labor at birth was not in vain, rather as they watch their children grow, they see the gift of God.  A mother might see and understand the gift of God more so than a father because of the pains they endured.

1 Peter 2:19–25 ²²He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. ²³When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

When a mother raises her children and sees them growing into adults she would most definitely say the birth pains were worth every minute of them.  You her child was worth suffering for and worth participating in the gift of life given to you.  Here is where a mother might see and understand the gift of God more so than a father.  Christ Jesus suffered great pain and humility so that we could have the gift of life too, that is, eternal life with God. 

            When you consider the amount of pain and suffering endured by Jesus who only did the right things; you might recognize that He too thought it was worth every hour of pain He endured.  Christ would not have died the death He endured for the sake of suffering, but to die for the sake of saving you and me He endured the death of worse sinners.  The cross was for all who had committed awful crimes, yet Christ had committed none and was truly unjustly crucified for all sin. 

            Christ endured much for our sake and for the sake of His Father’s and our Father’s great and awesome love for all.  It is the birth pains that Jesus endured so that we could be reborn, and adopted as heirs of the greatest gift of all.   To our God, you and I are worth those birth pains that gives us eternal life and everlasting relationship with our Savior and God.