The Way of Suffering

Via Dolorosa

'He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain' Isaiah 53:3

There is a street in Jerusalem upon which I have walked about seven times in my life. It is an alley way lined by small shops on both sides where the Arab merchants sell their merchandise of copper and silver ware, decorated pottery, carpets and souvenirs. Meandering upwards of, a now imperceptible, low hill, this street led to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher – Calvary. Someone else walked that street, nearly 2000 years ago. 

It was not an easy or pleasant 'sight-seeing' walk. This street, then, was the last walk for a prisoner condemned to die and on his way to the gallows. Jesus, having endured torture, carried the cross and trudged up this hill, with difficult, painful and stumbling steps. On both sides of his path, the multitudes, many of whom were pilgrims celebrating the Jewish passover, scorned, mocked and derided him. 

The street is called the Via Dolorosa, the way of suffering. Pilgrims can walk the 14 stations of the cross beginning from the flogging of Christ into the streets to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Down the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem that day

The soldiers tried to clear the narrow street

But the crowd pressed in to see

The man condemned to die on Calvary

He was bleeding from a beating, there were stripes upon His back

And He wore a crown of thorns upon His head

And He bore with every step

The scorn of those who cried out for His death

Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering

Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King

But He chose to walk that road out of

His love for you and me

Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary

The blood that would cleanse the souls of all men

Made its way to the heart of Jerusalem

Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering

Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King

But He chose to walk that road out of His love for you and me

Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary

On Sunday 4 Sep 2022, several members from Charis Methodist Church journeyed to Oberammergau to watch the Passion Play. About 400 years ago, the residents of this small Bavarian village prayed for God to spare them further losses from the Black Death. With prayer, the town witnessed the last of the plague's victims. They vowed to perform a play of the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ every 10 years since.

Legend has it that ever since 1634, when the villagers of Oberammergau first performed their passion play, no more epidemic hit the village. However they could not escape Covid-19. Like so many places on earth, Oberammergau experienced several deaths forcing the village to postpone the event until 2022. 

We were able to relive the experience and sense of the suffering of Jesus Christ in His last few hours on earth. Then we celebrated the resurrection of Christ along with many others. 

Charis Methodist Church at Oberammergau

This experience of Jesus, tortured, scorned and derided, is a hallmark in the history of Christianity. Christianity began in pain. For several centuries afterwards, the early Christians, endured the same risk Jesus endured whenever they professed their faith. 

With the passing of time, Christianity became an internationally accepted faith; persecution stopped and Christians began to enjoy the bountiful blessings of God. Christians now enjoy acceptance, security, peace and well being. 

We become surprised and disoriented when we face a different experience. But pain and suffering can become a cross that some Christians will experience. When this happens it is easy to blame God. We live with the presumption this could not happen to us. 

How can a good God, who bestows goodness, allow this to happen? Woody Allen was purported to have said, “How do you expect me to believe in God, when only last week I got my tongue caught in the roller of my electric type-writer?” We do not have to respond with Woody-Allenian smugness. There are many fine examples of people who have endured suffering and come out more mature; their responses more elegant and erudite. The Via Dolorosa is a poignant reminder, etched upon the pages of history, of the suffering of Jesus Christ and that pain can and will happen to Christians.

Thomas Dorsey's "Precious Lord" presents itself to us a song of hope and faith. People around the world know it, sing it, and love it because of its profound message. 

Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I'm tired, I'm weak, I'm worn
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

When my way grows drear precious Lord linger near
When my light is almost gone
Hear my cry, hear my call
Hold my hand lest I fall
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

When the darkness appears and the night draws near
And the day is past and gone
At the river I stand
Guide my feet, hold my hand
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I'm tired, I'm weak, I'm worn
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

Few know the song was inspired by a horrific tragedy in the life of its composer. In August of 1932, Dorsey was scheduled to be the featured soloist at a large revival meeting in St. Louis. At the time his wife, Nettie was pregnant with their first child. He kissed her goodbye and made his way to St. Louis for the revival meeting. The next night, as soon as he finished playing, he received a telegram and pasted on the yellow sheet were the words: 'Your wife just died.' Nettie had given birth to a boy but later the baby died. In the midst of despair, a friend visited Dorsey and arranged for him to be left alone in a music room with a piano. For the first time in many days, he sat at a piano using his fingers to browse the keys. Soon, the young artist experienced a personal revival, "I felt at peace. I felt as though I could reach out and touch God. I found myself playing a melody, one I'd never heard or played before, and words for "Precious Lord" came into my head—they just seemed to fall into place." 

'Weeping may remain for a night but rejoicing comes in the morning.' Psalms 30:5 

Lionel 

Updated 1st Published 22 Feb 2008

Living With Pain

'My son, if you aspire to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for an ordeal' Ecclesiastes 21:1

Rugby and football players often have injuries and yet they are told to start a game and play through the pain. The American football coach Vince Lombardi used to tell his players, "Men, you can only win the big games when you learn to play with the little hurts of life." Many sports enthusiasts console themselves over pain during training with the reminder, no pain no gain. This is the reality.

Timothy Keller introduced his book Walking with God through Pain and Suffering (Ref 1) with this sentence, 'Suffering is everywhere, unavoidable and its scope overwhelms'. Keller bravely recognised pain and suffering as a reality of life and we are often subjected to forces beyond our power to manage. 

Even as we may blithely accept the reality of pain, we should always sympathise with those who are undergoing the suffering and anguish. Their major concern is not just the relief of it but how can they survive it, how can one get through the ordeal without losing the best part of oneself. Suffering can strip away at our humanity and dignity; our personal survival.

A major concern borne out by the life of Job is that life can be unfair. There seems to be no correlation between whether we do wrong or right compared with the rewards or the suffering we get from life. While we may accept that life can be difficult, undeserved suffering is very difficult to accept. 

Many people reject God because of the experience of pain and suffering in their lives especially when they feel that they do not deserve the predicament. How can a good God allow such misery? 

What will be the response for Christians? 

In the book, the Çity of God', St Augustine spoke of suffering and opined that what matters is not the nature of the suffering but the nature of the sufferer. How has it affected us? How has it shaped our lives? Is it creating a movement in our souls that directs us to God?

When Christians face pain and undeserved suffering, it might do well for us to remember that Jesus endured the cross. A bitter agony which He bore for us. He paid the ultimate penalty for our sins and hung there on the cross, crucified. There is a negro spiritual 'Were You There When They Crucified the Lord' to remind us that Jesus also suffered.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord? 

Were you there when they crucified my Lord? 

Ooh, sometimes it causes me to tremble

Tremble, tremble, tremble, tremble

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they pierced him in his side?

Were you there when they pierced him in his side?

Ooh, sometimes it causes me to tremble

Tremble, tremble, tremble, tremble

Were you there when they pierced him in his side?

Were you there when they took him from the cross?

Were you there when they took him from the cross?

Ooh, sometimes it causes me to tremble

Tremble, tremble, tremble, tremble

Were you there when they took him from the cross?

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

Ooh, sometimes it causes me to tremble

Tremble, tremble, tremble, tremble

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

Were you there when the stone was rolled away?

Were you there when the stone was rolled away?

Ooh, sometimes it causes me to tremble

Tremble tremble, tremble, tremble

Were you there when the stone was rolled away?

This acceptance of pain is not a stoic, fatalistic or cop-out response. Christians see always an element of God's grace wherein God is in control and will eventually put things right. Even if it does not lead to the removal of the pain, God's grace will lead to mitigation and alleviation of the suffering. It is not surprising then, that for as many people who may reject God because of pain and suffering, others find God instead. Timothy Keller surmised, "I learned that just as many people find God through affliction and suffering. They find that adversity moves them towards God rather than away." This was exactly the conclusion and meaning of Psalms 34:1-3

'I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise will continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together.'

• Praise can be uttered by the mouths of the privileged as well as the deprived
• Reality of pain and suffering should be recognised not ignored nor rejected
• Blessings will also come for the afflicted too
• The worship of God will uplift our souls and help us survive our suffering

Inevitably, we, growing older, will have to deal with our frailties. Our physical bodies will fail us, some suffering from disease will be in pain. Living with pain will become a reality and at this stage we need to learn how to maintain a life of purpose in the midst of this adversity. There is no fear. Enjoy this song, How Can I Fear?

 

When shadows fall and the night covers all

There are things that my eyes cannot see.

I never fear, for the Saviour is near.

My LORD abides with me!

How can I fear? Jesus is near!

He ever watches over me!

Worries all cease; He gives me peace.

How can I fear with Jesus?

When I'm alone and I face the unknown

And I fear what the future may be,

I can depend on the strength of my Friend!

He walks along with me.

How can I fear? Jesus is near!

He ever watches over me!

Worries all cease; He gives me peace.

How can I fear with Jesus?

Jesus is King! He controls everything!

He is with me each night and each day.

I trust my soul to the Saviour's control;

He drives all fear away!

How can I fear? Jesus is near!

He ever watches over me!

Worries all cease; He gives me peace.

How can I fear with Jesus?

Let us take comfort that there is no tragedy we will face, no hardship we will endure and no adversity we will encounter where God is not with us, steadily holding us up with his mighty hand. This is why people find God in the midst of their pain and adversity. C.S. Lewis once said, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience but shouts in our pain."

Lionel

Ref 1: Timothy Keller, Walking With God through Pain and Suffering. Hodder and Stoughton Ltd, 2015 

Where There Is Injury, Let Me Sow Pardon

'The Lord bless you and keep you; 

the Lord make His face to shine on you 

and be gracious unto you

The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.' Numbers 6:24-26

Our Bible discussion group was sharing a chapter from Kent Nerburn’s book (Ref 1), “Make Me An Instrument Of Your Peace", when Low Li Eng commented that in asking to sow pardon where there is injury, St Francis was dealing not with the principle but with the pain.

Li Eng understood that healing starts by managing the pain not by settling on principles or fairness. This was brilliantly demonstrated by Nelson Mandela who on being the first black President of South Africa, established the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission. 

South Africa was a brutally repressive state where a minority of four million whites ruled a majority population of over 20 million nonwhites in a segregationist, racist apartheid regime. There was widespread discrimination, racially motivated murders and beatings. It was unbearable. 

Soon it became clear that such a repressive  regime could not sustain itself. The white apartheid government had to turn over the country to the black majority. When that happened, many speculated that an unprecedented bloodbath of vengeance and retribution would ensue. Just elected president, Mandela was more than aware that his nation was a hotbed for revenge-seeking racism following the abandonment of apartheid. It was a earth-shaking challenge.

No bloodbath ensued when the power in South Africa was handed over from a white regime to the blacks of the country. Instead, South Africa managed a remarkable and relatively peaceful transition to democracy and majority rule. With Nobel Peace Prize winner Bishop Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela organised the Commission in 1995 to help South Africa work through the scars of an entire country and people. Its goal was to provide, on a national scale, an effective and productive way to allow blacks who had been mistreated or subjected to violence to seek justice without revenge. In an unprecedented gesture of national forgiveness, the Commission would also allow perpetrators of racially motivated crimes to seek amnesty from the government in return for testimony.

The commission was not vengeful or retaliatory. By giving those accused of racially motivated crimes opportunities to apply for amnesty, the South African government showed that being reasonable and forgiving to a degree could be beneficial. Revenge will simply perpetuate the hate and undermine any real chance for peace and advancement. 

Many who were maligned, offended or betrayed would ask for justice. After retribution, perhaps they could generously offer pardon. Instead St Francis knew that there is something even more painful than injustice and that injury needs healing. St Francis asked us to “sow pardon.” Kent Nerburn wrote, “Sowing does not imply that something is fully grown, only that the seeds of possibility have been planted.”

This act of sowing pardon was well illustrated in the movie 'Invictus' which was released in Dec 2009. (Click on the title to watch a trailer of the film.) Invictus is the amazing true story of how Nelson Mandela (played by Morgan Freeman) joined up with the captain of South Africa's rugby team, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon) in an effort to use the game to unite their country. Mandela loved rugby but the South African rugby team, the Springboks, was one of the worst national teams. Because of apartheid many nations had boycotted playing with the Springboks, so the standard of rugby deteriorated. Furthermore, the nation's majority blacks favoured soccer, not rugby. The Springboks team was viewed contemptuously by the blacks as a remnant of the hated apartheid. Over fierce resistance, the rebuilding of the team with both blacks and whites players began, with a distinct eye toward the World Cup final. They won the finals that year and Mandela's mixed Springboks team came to terms with South Africa as a fully integrated state. There was healing.

Nelson Mandella was famous as a man who forgave the enemies who had jailed him. How far was forgiveness special to Mandela? Graca Machel wrote of Mandela, "He symbolises a much broader forgiveness and understanding and reaching out. If he had come out of prison and sent a different message, I can tell you this country could be in flames." There is another forgiving act that is even more astounding, the forgiveness of Jesus on the cross, "Father forgive them that for they do not know what they are doing" Luke 23:24.

South Africa pioneered an approach that exemplified the Christian invocation, 'Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sinned against us.' The Afrikaner Whites were to confess and the African Blacks to forgive. A simple equation Confession + Forgiveness = Reconciliation brought a peaceful transition of power.  

We continue to search for peace today. When we look at the protests and violence over racial injustice and the divide between left and right political views in many cities in the USA today, it seems almost impossible to achieve any kind of peaceful resolution. In fact some are even talking of a kind of civil war and the breaking up of the United States. They should know that peace is a byproduct of forgiveness. 

Christians are taught by Jesus to forgive. Peter asked Jesus "Lord how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me. Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times but seventy-seven times" Matthew 18:21-22. When we can learn to sow pardon, we will enjoy the Aaronic Blessing, 'The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.'

    

Lionel

Ref 1: Kent Nerburn, 'Make Me An Instrument Of Your Peace' HarperCollins, 1999