Seedcast By Sanctuary

Listen to the words of Jesus in the garden: “Let this cup pass me by; yet not my ways but yours.” No one wants pain in life – and certainly not in the life of a loved one. How often do you hear someone say of a dying relative, ‘we lost her, but at least she didn’t suffer!’Suffering is at the heart of the story of Jesus. From weeping at the death of Lazarus, to the tears shed over the city of Jerusalem, Jesus felt personal loss deeply.The Latin word ‘patior’ means to suffer, and from its root come the words passion and compassion. They are words clearly identified with the God of Jesus.The cup that Jesus had to drink was filled with the tears of humanity, according to tradition. The God of oceans, rivers, lakes and ponds is also one who sheds tears.Jesus reveals a God who is not aloof, not impersonal, not out of touch. When gods are described as ‘all powerful’ and ‘almighty’ they appear incapable of shedding tears. Jesus’ God is not like that. Jesus God is vulnerable!The mystery is this! In Christ God suffers!