"Then he began to teach them (his followers)
that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering ..."
(Mark 8:31a)
Two brilliant Christian theologians come to mind when it comes to suffering. One is Jurgen Moltmann whose focus is on the suffering of God caused by his rebellious creation.
The other is the Christian theologian who is his wife Elisabeth Moltmann-Wendel who focuses on the friendship of God. She does so for the reason that if we focus too much on a suffering God that such may be used to justify making others (that we see as evil) suffer.
I can hear from both sides. Jurgen would say that Jesus suffered to demonstrate the love of God for all the world, but such does not justify suffering at all. And would say to those who do and do not suffer, "God is your friend".
Your friend, Jesus, suffered for you. Such is the message of the Christian season of Lent that began this past Wednesday and will last (excluding Sundays on which the resurrection of Jesus is always to be celebrated) until Easter Sunday.
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