When I struggle with the question of suffering, the meaningless life in the face of death and pain, I'm reminded that Jesus also went through the same pain, and more.
I'm given a vivid understanding that Jesus also undergone the same struggle and question while suffering on the cross.
Why must the Lord suffer? Why must good people suffer? Why must we suffer and die? Is there meaning to it all? Are we born to die?
Two important points in these questions. Suffering and purpose of life.
In the eyes of most people witnessing Jesus' death, it was the end of everything. He suffered without any good coming from it. He was defeated and achieved nothing. Everything was meaningless when Jesus was killed. There was no hindsight and hope of His Resurrection in the eyes of the people who witnessed Jesus' crucifixion.
His death was the end. Another meaningless and painful death.
I understood this as great comfort. Jesus struggled through this when He cried out asking why God had forsaken Him. He felt the loneliness, the emptiness and the great pain. Much more than most of us can ever imagine.
This is the same question we ask when people died tragically in accidents, wars and disease.
But the hope is in Christ's Resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus, our Lord, gives meaning to life and death. Meaning for the suffering we endure and the good that we do. That those who died did not die in vain. The good life they had lived will not be purposeless. Everything will be counted and appraised when we are resurrected before God's throne of judgement. For good and for bad.
Of course, it's difficult to find comfort in an event that everyone cannot see. That's why we are doubtful and shy to hold this hope as the answer to the big difficult questions of suffering and death, and the meaning of life in the face of the two.
Now, the Lord made me understand why He said, "blessed are those who believe without even seeing His Resurrection." His disciples were blessed to witness the Lord's Resurrection and vindication. They were comforted and changed. They were given meaning and new life. They were no longer afraid to face threats of death for Jesus and in following Him. They saw and were blessed.
But, we're blessed even more when we believe in the hope of resurrection in Christ even though we've not seen it with our own eyes.
This is the comfort for my own difficult situation in facing the uncertainty of my heart condition.
Lord, help me to hope in You and live in You, looking forward to the resurrection that gives meaning to life and comfort for suffering and death. Amen.
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