Our Suffering Savior
“…The Word has nail-scarred hands that cup our face close, wipe away the tears running down, has eyes to look deep into our brimming ache, and whisper, ‘I know. I know.'” (“Reflections From One Thousand Gifts” – Ann Voskamp)
I closed the small devotional – the words going deep. I thought about the suffering Savior – His unimaginable pain as He hung on a cross, separated from His Father, crushed beneath the immeasurable weight of the sin of the world. Then the miracle of His resurrection and His ascent back to heaven. I pictured Him, as best I could, seated on a throne at the right hand of His Father. His suffering ended. Or had it?
My children are all grown with families of their own. Technically speaking, they are no longer my responsibility. Technically speaking. My heart doesn’t seem to recognize technicalities. They will always be my children. Their joys are my joys, and their heartaches break my heart. I rejoice at their successes and offer encouragement when life gets hard. I feel sorrow when they suffer because of unwise choices and love them through the consequences. Time and distance will never change that.
How could it be any different for Jesus? We are His – always and forever. He gave His life for us. He sees us – every moment of every day. He delights in us and fills our lives with blessings. When we suffer, His tears mingle with our own, and in those seasons where we turn away from Him and make choices that inevitably bring us pain, His heart breaks. His heart breaks, but He never abandons us. He, too, loves us through the consequences. And because He is very God, He can make all things new.
We have a Savior who understands and loves us so completely that nothing can ever come to us that He does not feel deeply. Indeed, He suffers with us. He is not a distant, uninvolved Savior.
We are loved and precious in His sight.
“For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Psalm 34:18
Blessings,
Linda
appreciate your sharing.
Thank you Linda for the wonderful reminder that no matter what we go through, He is with us. Knowing that He is indeed near, brings me comfort.