How Christ Comforteth Those Who Suffer for Him
A. Burgess. 2 Corinthians 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds by Christ. I. AS OUR SUFFERINGS ARE FOR CHRIST, SO BY THE SAME CHRIST ARE OUR COMFORTS. Consider in what respects comforts may be said to abound by Christ. 1. Efficiently. He being the same with God, is therefore a God of all consolation, and as a Mediator He is sensible of our need, and therefore the more ready to comfort. Christ that wanted comfort Himself, and therefore had an angel sent to comfort Him, is thereby the more compassionate and willing to comfort us. Thus you may read Christ and God put together in this very act (2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17). Christ, therefore, not only absolutely as God, but relatively as Mediator, is qualified with all fitness and fulness to communicate consolation; He is the fountain and head, as of grace, so of comfort. 2. Meritoriously. He hath merited at the hands of God our comfort. As by Christ the Spirit of God is given to the Church as a guide into all truth, and as the Sanctifier, so He is also the Comforter, who giveth every drop of consolation that any believer doth enjoy. 3. Objectively — i.e., in Him, and from Him we take our comfort. As Christ is called "our righteousness," because in and through His righteousness we are accepted of in Him, so Christ is our comfort, because in Him we find matter of all joy (Philippians 3:3). II. HOW MANY WAYS CHRIST MAKES HIS COMFORTS TO ABOUND TO THOSE THAT SUFFER FOR HIM. 1. By persuading them of the goodness of the cause, why they suffer. 2. By forewarning of their sufferings, All who will live godly must suffer tribulation. Christ hath done us no wrong, He hath told us what we must look for, it is no more than we expected. The fiery trial is not a strange thing. Surely this maketh way for much comfort, that we looked for afflictions beforehand; we prepared an ark against the deluge should come. 3. By informing us of His sovereignty and conquest over the world. If our enemies were equal or superior to Christ, then we might justly be left without comfort; but what Christ spake to His disciples belongs to all (John 14:18; John 16:33). 4. By virtue of His prayer put up in that very behalf (John 17:13). 5. By instructing us of the good use and heavenly advantage all these tribulations shall turn unto. (1) Our spiritual and eternal good. This will winnow away our chaff, purge our dross, be a school wherein we shall learn more spiritual and Divine knowledge than ever before. Sufferings have taught more than vast libraries, or the best books can teach. (2) Our eternal glory. (A. Burgess.) Parallel Verses KJV: For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. WEB: For as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, even so our comfort also abounds through Christ.