One of the poignant moments in human life is the “suffering moments.” The experience of human suffering is one that I as an individual would like to wish away because of what suffering makes us to undergo-pain, feeling of abandonment, fear, despair, rejection, discrimination, torture, exploitation, death. Sufferings man-made or not affect us irrespective of our region, ethnicity, race, gender, age, status, and nationality.

It is at these poignant moments of my life where I experience sufferings as an individual. It is a period of nothingness when everything ceases, life becomes meaningless, I feel abandoned, lonely and the most painful of all God appears to be distant. Sometimes I wonder why it has to be me? Why are suffering always picking on me? Where is God, my family and friends?

Many a times I have complained to God, family members and friends about my sufferings. On other occasions I have sought out my family, friends and relatives hoping that they will be of help to me only to be more disappointed. This experience at one point made me to severe links with some of them that I regarded as unreliable.

The most amazing thing is that despite feeling let down by God, family members, friends, and relatives. God through some of my family members, friends and even strangers will journey with me in my “suffering moments.” It is through their encouragement, smiles, prayers, love, presence, help, company, visits, care, advice and surety that I have been strengthened, enlightened and empowered. They would re-affirm God’s love, presence, care and power in my life in the midst of my “suffering moments.”

The realization that God is always with me in my poignant moments is awesome. The surety of God’s constant love and presence is more than enough, that he is always present when I feel abandoned, nothingness, pain, helpless, insecure, loneliness and betrayed. Like Job’s friends Eliphaz, Zephar and Bildad (Job 2:11-13) and Jesus visit to Lazarus sisters, Martha and Mary (John 11: 17-37) Jesus is concerned with my welfare. And just like the Centurion (Luke 7:1-10), the three friends of the paralyzed man (Mark 2: 1-12) and Jairus (5:21-42) my family members, friends, and other people intercede for me, bring me back to God, and are concerned about my welfare.

It is in these “suffering moments,” that I have come to discover the one who is really concerned and deeply affected by me. And that person is none other than God. It is the same God who invites me (us), “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my York upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

In as much I do not like sufferings or seeing others suffers. I must acknowledge that suffering has taught me important lessons in life that have helped me to grow spiritually; God’s love and presence; trust in God; respect for human life, dignity and sanctity; empathy, concern for others and my own frailty as a human being.

The passion narratives present another aspect of Jesus who appears to be helpless in the midst of sufferings. Jesus arrest, torture and death at the hands of both political and religious leaders is something that even his close associates never imagined could ever occur. Jesus close associates perceived him to be above such kind of suffering.

Many people had experienced and witnessed Jesus alleviating human sufferings such as sickness (deafness, dumbness, paralysis), casting out demons, restoring to life the dead and empowering social rejects (tax collectors, the poor, and Samaritan woman). To these people Jesus was an extra-ordinary person who offered them what both their religious and political leaders could not. Something that made them considered him a messiah.

In fact, few days before his passion Jesus disciples had proclaimed him a King and gave him a royal reception upon his arrival in Jerusalem. Jesus reception could not have gone unnoticed by both religious and political leaders since some of them had interacted with Jesus, heard about him and were seeking to arrest him. This perhaps helps to explain the great surprise and fear that engulfed some of Jesus disciples when they saw him suffering at the hands of their leaders.

I suppose that both the religious leaders and political leaders were uncertain of what to expect from Jesus having had of his extra-ordinary power to heal, cast out demons, raise the dead and his remarkable teachings. Unfortunately, contrary to their expectations Jesus appeared to have been “cornered”. The sight of Jesus at the hands of his tormentors puzzled the beneficiaries of his teachings, healing, liberation, and empowerment. For them Jesus was a Messiah, and as a Messiah he was not supposed to suffer.

The Jews had expected their Messiah to be political king (Matthew 15:32) who would liberate them from their enemies (Matthew 1:21). But Jesus kingship was different. Prophet Isaiah spoke of the suffering Messiah who had to undergo suffering in his life. Jesus himself too spoke about his own suffering to his disciples (Matthew16:21), however, they never understood him. Peter appeared to have been scandalized when Jesus spoke about his suffering and took Jesus aside to give him a piece of his mind, but Jesus stood his ground.
From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying. “God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men (Matthew 16:21-23).

In addition, upon his resurrection from the dead Jesus Christ affirmed he was indeed the long foretold suffering messiah (Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53); to two of his disciples who were on their way to Emmaus, that he had to endure sufferings. Jesus Christ referred them back to the scriptures as he enlightened them (Luke 24:25-26).

Even before his passion, Jesus was exposed to suffering, experienced suffering and witnessed suffering. Right from his birth his life was endangered as Herod sought to kill him. Herod knew very well that Jesus was a threat to his political throne and this explains Herod frustration upon hearing the news of Jesus birth. It was because of this reason that Jesus parents, Joseph and Mary had to take refuge in Egypt.

Jesus too faced rejection from his own people. He was also misunderstood mainly by the religious leaders, relatives, and even his disciples. Jesus was also betrayed, denied and abandoned by his own disciples. Jesus was affected by other peoples suffering and always sought to help them by taking away their sufferings. Thus, suffering was part of his mission on earth. Jesus was exposed to sufferings, experienced and witnessed sufferings. Being God’s son did not make him immune to sufferings since he was fully human just like us (apart from sin).
Blogger: Fredrick Wanjala Nafula
 
REFRENCE

The Holy Bible (1971). Revised Standard Edition (2nd edition). Collins Bible.