By Divine Providence I had ordered and received a copy of Richard Bauckham’s study of the work of Jurgen Moltmann before my unexpected and sudden heart bypass surgery: The Theology of Jurgen Moltmann, which I began reading during my recovery. I ordered it for his summary of Moltmann’s famous treatment of the cross of Christ, THE CRUCIFIED GOD. It has been a wonderful tonic to enter into the insights of this German Protestant theologian during a time of shock, weakness and healing. It gave me a deeper understanding of the love of God in Christ. He directed me to these powerful words of Scripture.

 “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.” (Isaiah 53:4)

“Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” (Hebrews 5:8)

These point to the extent of the love of God. Love suffers for the beloved. The essence (and uniqueness) of Christianity is that God became human in Jesus and suffered and died for us. That means that God entered into the suffering of the whole world and mine. Many people cannot believe in God because they see the suffering of the world, especially innocent suffering in children, natural disasters and the cruelty of wicked men (see the tragedy of the present Russian war in Ukraine). I hear time and time again how people cannot believe in God because of the suffering in the world. Moltmann explores this theme masterfully in Dostoevsky’s, The Brothers Karamazov, and Elie Wiesel’s, Night. But they mistake the nature of the love of God. Love suffers with us and for us. When I suffer God is suffering with me and in me and through me. I am not alone in that suffering. He is with me to bear it with me and to help me endure it through to the resurrection. Jesus identifies with all human suffering in the cross. He makes himself vulnerable to our fragility and vulnerability. God suffers empathetically and in solidarity with his people. Jesus suffering and dying on the cross comes alongside us and identifies with our suffering. He even goes so far as to echo our sense of abandonment when we are weak and depressed by his cry of dereliction: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

All too often we downplay and even ignore the reality of suffering because we prefer to hear premature assurances that all will be well. We want the triumph of physical healing as quickly as possible to overcome the admission of emotional trauma. “You are doing well and going to be better than before” is preferred to the acknowledgement that “I know that this is a hard time for you yet we are here for you to support you all the way.” Even Jesus had to suffer, die and descend to hell for us in the tomb. But after three days Jesus rose from the dead because death could not hold his eternal life. He brings us hope and the rekindling of life and love. Our bodies can eventually heal and our emotions can be restored. Injuries, wounds and trauma can pass away and we can resume normal life. We may grieve for a while our loss of former wholeness but eventually confidence will return. If we have lost a loved one we realize that it is for a short while before we are reunited and in the meantime we must go on with Christ and in the enabling of the Holy Spirit who never forsakes us. Jesus is victim but he is also victor. “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor.15:57)

I thank God that he gave me a wonderful wife, Antoinette, who stood by me and ministered her love to me in ways that I cannot adequately express. I could not have recovered as well as I have without her constant support and help. The love of God in Christ came through her. I also thank all those who prayed for me and send cards and other messages of love. I am now on the mend.