The Power of Sacrificial Suffering

Jared shared something incredibly insightful and powerful a week ago, that has really stuck with me. I would go so far as to say that it was a conceptual hanger on which I will be able to hang much spirituality, humanity, and theology.

Paraphrased, we were talking about what the incarnation teaches us, or means to us. He said that it taught him about suffering. He pointed out that there is always going to be suffering. By sacrificing, that person takes on someone else's suffering. The suffering is still there; it still hurts; it doesn't lessen in the sacrifice. But by taking on someone else's suffering, by sacrificing, a creative force is unleashed; a space for love is created, where before there was none. Suffering has the power to generate anger, bitterness, regret, and sorrow on it's own; sacrificial suffering has the power to create love.

That gives a great framework for me to understand what Christ did.

Thanks Jared.