Suffering (Luke 23:32-47)

Jesus’ passion worked far more good than I can comprehend, let alone discuss. So let me focus on just one of those goods: what it shows us about how to get through times of suffering. 

Jesus did suffer, and suffered far more horrifically than the gospel accounts describe, but He able to get through it victoriously.  How did he do that, what helped Him endure to a successful end?  Today’s reading shows us two ways.

One way was through prayer. In verse 34  he interceded for His executioners. In verse 46  He told the Father that He was surrendering His soul. Other scriptures reflect Jesus’ prayer at other times during His passion. He poured his heart out in the garden. Luke 22:41-44; Matthew 26:36-44; Mark 14:32-39. He made prayers of lament while on the cross. Matthew 27:46. He reported the final completion of His mission to the Father. John 19:28. And those are only the prayers that he spoke out loud; He doubtless kept up an internal dialog with the Father that the gospel writers couldn’t capture. That is consistent with other scriptures; the Psalms provide multiple examples of God’s servants coming to Him in the midst of their sufferings. See e.g. Psalms 6, 10, 22, 38, and 43.   

Another way Jesus coped was by focusing on others. During his passion He  sought forgiveness for those executing Him, He ministered to the repentant criminal,  He  made provision for His mother. Attending to those folks’ needs likely diverted some of His attention from His own pain. Although I have never suffered anything close to what Jesus experienced, I know that I have found respite in my times of suffering by serving others. Some ways to do that can be found here, here, here, here,  here, and here. Try them out when you are hurting; you will likely receive at least as much solace as you give. 

 

Prayer:

Jesus, we can never thank you enough for what you did through your passion, but let us thank you for at least this one thing: for showing how to cope with suffering. Draw us to you when we suffer. Help us to help others in their suffering. Help us through. Pour out your mercy, on and through us.