This year, God impressed the image of the suffering Messiah on me during my recent trip to the Holy Land. Too often we forget that Jesus was also “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). He didn’t teach about suffering without going through it Himself. Jesus truly understands our pain and sorrow and because He’s gone through the worst pain possible, He wants to help us cope with our own. The Man who healed the sick and raised the dead to life didn’t choose the easy way out when faced with incurable wounds and death of His own. He is our greatest example of what it means to rise above the pain and hurt that we continue to experience today. Jesus didn’t promise an easy road, but He did guarantee peace in the midst of the storm and victory if we hold on to His promises until the end.
The suffering Messiah wasn’t the kind of Messiah the Jews were looking for but you know what, I’m thankful that that’s who Jesus was. Because when I go through the difficult times, I know that He understands, cares and can help me conquer whatever comes my way. I can endure the hardships because of Him! So the next time you think that God doesn’t care about your suffering and pain, think of the suffering Messiah and get to know Him better. He is no stranger to your grief.
Rising with the Son 