I went to church today. The sermon was on suffering. At one point, the priest turned and gestured to Jesus hanging from the cross, the ultimate in human suffering, he implied. Well.
I’m sure it must have been challenging, being the son of God and all, but I don’t think hanging from the cross depicts the ultimate in human suffering. Sure, you slowly suffocate, your ribs break. I’ll bet having a nail go through your hand isn’t fun, and hanging by that hand excruciating. I suppose after a few days of starvation, one starts to feel pretty bad. And all the while being taunted by your enemies must have been a challenge.
But Jesus didn’t have to do this for 20 years straight. He knew he was going to die, and the suffering would end. He didn’t have a lifetime of progressively worsening disease to deal with. He didn’t have pieces cut out of him, one organ at a time. He got to break bread and drink wine until the end. It isn’t written in the bible, but I doubt he had chronic diarrhea. He probably had worms.
This is one reason I’m not a Christian. Because I’m just not that impressed when they say Jesus died for me. I mean, that was very kind of him. But if he had lived to a ripe old age, suffered from some horrible disease the entire time – and touching his own sleeve didn’t work – then I would be more in awe of his sacrifice.
Jesus died to save my soul from eternal suffering. What do you do when the hell is now?
Tags: suffering
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What makes the fact that Jesus Died on a cross such a big deal is not the amount of pain he suffered dying. It was brutal of course but you are right it was only short lived. What made it so amazing was that God Must punish disobedience. He is perfect and a Perfect God must punish sin. Why? Because if we are not perfect we can’t live with God. Sound unfair? Well, it actually isn’t. We deserve to be separated from God b/c He is perfect and we are not. God can’t overlook our sin b/c then He would not be Just and Good and that would mean He wasn’t perfect. God could only accept a perfect blood sacrifice for payment of sin (Heb. 9:22). Why? Because death is ultimately being separate from God and our payment for sin is to be separated forever. Only that Perfect sacrifice would be acceptable. I can’t pay for my kids sins, b/c I am not perfect and need someone to step in my place. Jesus lived a perfect life and never sinned (disobeyed) against God. That is why when He died on the cross it was such a big deal. God didn’t accept what Jesus Did on the cross because it was the most pain, God accepted the death of Jesus because Jesus was perfect and He died in our place. I can never be good enough to be accepted by God on my behavior. Only because of What Jesus did am I accepted by God. It is my dependence on what Jesus did that is enough. The cool thing is, because God is God, he raised Jesus from the dead 3 days later so we can now live our life with Him. I understand the dilemma many have with what was the big deal with Jesus death on the cross. I will tell you what the big deal is… No one else could have done it and it meant anything more than just a man dying. Jesus died and we have hope now. God accepts us because of what Jesus did! That is the Reason for the Cross!
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Totally agree with the article on suffering. Jesus doesn’t and never did exist, and its really sad to see people believe this (cult). It sucks that we have to be sick but all there is for us is hope that scientists will find a cure! Oh and that comment about Jesus is a load of crap, the bible has so many contradictions and the person who wrote it really messed up!
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