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| Know More Suffering |
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by Tom Gilbert
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I believe one of the more
confusing things for non-Christians is why Jesus would
suffer and die the way he did. It’s not difficult
to understand why he was put to death. He’d riled
up the authorities and the religious leaders to such an
extent that they felt he
must be killed. However, when we are confronted with the
news of a willing death, a sacrificial death of extreme
physical
torture, well this is hard to comprehend.
Why would God in the flesh submit to death on a cross?
The atoning death of Christ Jesus is the great act of redemption for us. This is an overwhelming
demonstration of love. When I contemplate this act, this dying for our
sins – my sins – it frequently reduces me to
tears. Yet, was it necessary for the death to be so brutal?
Why did Jesus have to suffer so greatly?
I am confronted by my inadequacy in trying to answer this
question. I think I understand why we need a savior. It
is all too apparent that I am incapable of saving myself.
Everywhere I look I see others facing the same dilemma.
The nature of Jesus’ death and the kind of anguish he experienced makes me sad. More
than that, it bends my heart towards compassion. No one can ever say that God
does not know what it is like to suffer. Jesus knew pain.
He experienced first hand great suffering. The actual separation
from God the Father during the crucifixion must have been
the utmost agony. We are told that Christ took upon himself
all the sins of the world and at that moment of sacrifice
he was apart from God.
Our own pain when we feel distant and separated from God
is hard enough. Imagine what it must be like to be one
with the Father and for that time of atonement to not have
that blessed union.
As we ponder why the Son of God suffered and died we can’t
help but contemplate our own suffering, or that of others.
Why is the world so full of suffering? Is there a point
to it all?
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Seeking
My Comfort
I must confess I’ve spent a great
deal of my life seeking comfort. The very idea of suffering
is alarming and if I think it can be avoided I will rush to that exit as if fleeing
a burning building.
Much of our suffering is self-inflicted. Frequently we
fail to see the consequences of our choices and actions.
Self-centeredness is a trap and eventually we will hit
bottom and discover what a dead-end that path is. When
we do and then turn to God in repentance and reconciliation
we discover joy. It is the release from suffering we brought
upon ourselves. We cease doing those things that are toxic
and harmful. Simply put, we let go and let God.
There are times, of course, when we cannot avoid suffering.
We all experience it in varying degrees. When we face the
suffering of loved ones the heartbreak we have, the compassion
for them and the desire to ease their suffering are all
touchstones of spiritual growth. I know this and, yet,
I still wish that suffering did not exist.
C. S. Lewis in A Grief Observed tells us that joy is not complete without the suffering. The
explanation, as I understand it, is that our appreciation for joy is not fulfilled if
we have not also experienced the anguish and pain of loss.
He knew it too well as cancer racked his wife’s body.
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Can I Take Your Pain?
Our desire to ease the suffering of others is holy. A
compassionate spirit is a gift of God. Caring about others
is the beginning of denial of self and obedience to the
command to love others.
When needless suffering is inflicted we must stand in
opposition. When suffering cannot be avoided it must be
embraced. The way of the cross is real for each of us,
but Jesus went there first and from that we learn the redemptive
power of suffering.
I admit that it is all still most mysterious.
My willingness to embrace my suffering, or that of anyone
else, is still quite small. I’m learning, though, to cling to that
barest amount of willingness and let suffering enlarge
my heart and bring me closer to our all-loving God.
If our true calling in life is to be a loving servant, and I believe it is, then we must all
find a way to hold the tension between self-desire and compassion for others.
We can learn to embrace the pain instead of denying it.
We can find acceptance of suffering without approval. The
transformation we experience by becoming “broken
bread and poured out wine” will better equip us to
live as disciples.
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| In
the Gospels Jesus said that part of being his disciple
is to deny self interest and take up our cross (; ; ). |
Scripture
taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973,
1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved
throughout the world. Used by permission of International
Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks
of International Bible Society. Use of either trademark for the offering
of goods or services requires the prior written consent of International
Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible,
New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used by permission
of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189, USA. All rights
reserved. |
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