Suffering Without Meaning (Luke 9:22)

Suffering.

Everyone has experienced it but the interpretations differ for the victims. Victor Frankl was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist who survived the Nazi Holocaust. After his experience in Nazi concentration camps, Frankl wrote, “Man is not destroyed by suffering; he is destroyed by suffering without meaning.”

Suffering without meaning. No one wants to suffer, but nearly everyone has suffered for a noble cause, something that imparts meaning and a worthy purpose. A parent would gladly suffer and sacrifice their comfort if it would ensure a better life for their children. A husband would unhesitatingly donate his kidney if it would save his wife’s life.

...The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

Luke 9:22 (NKJV)

No one suffered more than Jesus Christ when He hung on the Cross. It was a suffering with meaning. Critics spit vitriolic aspersions against Him, averring that He was an unwitting pawn of the Jewish leaders or manipulated by the Roman leadership. Jesus spoke these words above, recorded in the Gospel of Luke. These are not the words of man who suffered without meaning. These are the words of a man who was absolutely certain about His mission and the direction of His life.  These are the words of a prophet who accurately and perfectly predicted all the details of His death and resurrection. These are the words of God who humbled Himself and put aside the glory that He had in Heaven and became a man.

Jesus suffered and died for us for the greatest meaning, our eternal destiny and salvation. Yes, man does not have be destroyed by suffering. Jesus Christ proved it and paid the ultimate price so that we would be reconciled to God through Him. And this suffering is a not a cause of despair, but rather, rejoicing!

For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.

Philippians 1:29 (NKJV)

We have been granted the privilege of suffering for His sake. Thanks be to the grace and mercy of God through His Son, Jesus Christ! He paid the price of our sins by suffering with meaning on the Cross.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.