“As they led him (Jesus) away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.” Luke 23:26-27
This two-part road in the old city of Jerusalem traces the path where Jesus was led in agony to the hill called Golgotha, or The Place of the Skull, where he would be crucified. The actual route Jesus took to the site of his crucifixion has been debated for several centuries, however the current route was agreed upon in the 18th century and is marked by what are traditionally understood to be nine stations of the cross; referring to events pertinent to the final hours of Jesus’ life. The suffering he bore during these hours – physical, emotional, and spiritual, lent the path its traditional Latin name: Via Dolorosa, or Way of Sorrows.
To Suffer…or Not to Suffer…
Particularly in what we would identify as Western (read – American) Christianity, there pervades the idea that if we as Christians live faithfully enough, if we can follow Christ Jesus CLOSE enough, we will not suffer loss in this life…we will never have disease, we will never be poor, we will never lose loved ones, and no evil will ever befall us. The problem is, the scriptures do not support this idea.
Moreover, those persons we witness in the scriptures who arguably followed Jesus the CLOSEST do not fulfill this idea. Of the twelve called disciples of Jesus, only John, Matthew, Simon the Zealot, and Thaddaeus died of what we would call natural causes. The others were crucified – sometimes upside down, stoned, run through with swords, and beheaded.
Of Jesus himself, Isaiah wrote prophetically saying: “He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our wellbeing was placed upon him, and by his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 Jesus suffered. His disciples suffered. And if we haven’t already, in this life…we will suffer. Suffering is a part of life.
Strength from Suffering?
James chapter 1 verse 2 states: “Consider it all joy, my bretheren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” We don’t draw from this the idea that we ought to go out looking for hardship, temptation, and suffering so that we might gain spiritual strength! Rather, we are encouraged to know that we are not alone in suffering. That as we travel the Way of Suffering, or the Way of Sorrows from time to time, the power and presence of our God, the Spirit of our Lord Jesus is present and powerful in and around us.
It is in this place that we are made strong in our suffering…from the place of weakness. It is in suffering that we reach out to our God and we are drawn to his heart, and assured of his care. And because of this James says for us to consider it all joy…when we experience suffering, trials, temptation.
Prayer: “Oh Lord, sometimes suffering feels like punishment. We cry out to you and ask for reasons why we must go through what we do in this life. As we walk the road of suffering…the way of sorrows, help us to cling to you for understanding, for strength, and for guidance. Help us not to run FROM suffering, but run TO you when we are visited by it. Amen.”
Scripture to claim:
“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.””
1 Peter 2:21-24
1 Peter 2:21-24
