Jesus Suffering Research Paper
Suffering
The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the "one mediator between God and men". But because in his incarnate divine person he has in some way united himself to every man, "the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery" is offered to all men. He calls his disciples to "take up [their] cross and follow [him]", for "Christ also suffered for [us], leaving [us] an example so that [we] should follow in his steps.” Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven. 1
Suffering is a universal condition of humankind, a state that brings men of all ages, means, and races to their knees on level ground. Although there are many arguments that appeal to human reason and point to the necessity of pain, when it is experienced deeply no explanation seems to fully make sense. It is very easy to turn inward during our times of suffering, and be unable to see anything other than our own misery. But with the Incarnation of Jesus, a new perspective on suffering has been revealed, one that does not try to explain it away or make …show more content…
He does this by fulfilling God's plan for humanity, to give and receive freely, obedient unto death. He was not forced to die on the cross for us but rather was given the same choice that Adam and Eve were given. Once again in a garden (Gethsemane) , man is tempted by the devil to distrust God's plan, but Jesus responds differently than what Adam and Eve, “Not my will but Yours be done.”3 By accepting His suffering willingly, trusting that it will bring about good, Jesus redeemed suffering and gave it redemptive value. God does not take away what we have freely chosen (sin) but brings something greater from it as “the Son of God suffered unto the death, not that men might not suffer, but that their sufferings might be like His.”
The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the "one mediator between God and men". But because in his incarnate divine person he has in some way united himself to every man, "the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery" is offered to all men. He calls his disciples to "take up [their] cross and follow [him]", for "Christ also suffered for [us], leaving [us] an example so that [we] should follow in his steps.” Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven. 1
Suffering is a universal condition of humankind, a state that brings men of all ages, means, and races to their knees on level ground. Although there are many arguments that appeal to human reason and point to the necessity of pain, when it is experienced deeply no explanation seems to fully make sense. It is very easy to turn inward during our times of suffering, and be unable to see anything other than our own misery. But with the Incarnation of Jesus, a new perspective on suffering has been revealed, one that does not try to explain it away or make …show more content…
He does this by fulfilling God's plan for humanity, to give and receive freely, obedient unto death. He was not forced to die on the cross for us but rather was given the same choice that Adam and Eve were given. Once again in a garden (Gethsemane) , man is tempted by the devil to distrust God's plan, but Jesus responds differently than what Adam and Eve, “Not my will but Yours be done.”3 By accepting His suffering willingly, trusting that it will bring about good, Jesus redeemed suffering and gave it redemptive value. God does not take away what we have freely chosen (sin) but brings something greater from it as “the Son of God suffered unto the death, not that men might not suffer, but that their sufferings might be like His.”