It is difficult to look upon suffering. We see it daily in headlines, on social media, and through television broadcasts. Victims of war, natural disasters, and violent crime fill our screens. And we often think, whether we admit it or not: Thank God it isn’t us. Lord, let it never be.  The world is a dark place but it was not created that way. Suffering and evil entered the world through sin, when humanity told God, in effect, “We no longer need You.” And yet, even as we pulled away from Him, He did not pull away from us.

God watched as we tore ourselves down again and again. He gave us His law, a simple framework for living righteously. But even then, we failed. And so, He did what even the angels could not comprehend: He joined us. The Creator became the creation. Jesus Christ took on flesh, not just to walk among us—but to suffer with us and for us. As the hymn Oh How He Loves You and Me reminds us, “He gave His life. What more could He give?” He became our sanctification, doing what we could never do for ourselves.

So when we look upon suffering from the comfort of distance and separation we must remember that the One who created us also entered our pain. He looked upon that suffering…and became one with it.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.” – Hebrews 4:15

Hebrews 2:9-18