I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. … Scorned by everyone, despised by the people. … In this world you will have trouble. … As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. … They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.

Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none. … At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. … Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head. … For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

2Co 1:5; Pi 3:10; Is 53:3, Ps 22:6, Jh 16:33, Jh 15:19, Jh 15:21; Ps 69:20, 2Ti 4:16, Mt 8:20, He 13:14; He 12:1-2

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.