Why Should God Have To Suffer?
We are quick to ask why people suffer when the far more significant question, especially during the Lenten season, is why should God have to suffer?
What we fail to realize is that suffering exists, first and foremost, not for us, but for Christ. Although man’s rebellion was the original cause of suffering in the world, Jesus’ obedience is the final cure. Without the sacrifice of Christ, suffering would lack its redemptive promise.
Thus, it can be said that all suffering was aimed, from the beginning, at him. To that end, it was established before the beginning of the world that Jesus should take the suffering of the whole world upon himself. In this sense, it can be said that all suffering was meant for Christ. It may visit us but only on its way to him.
At the cross, Jesus received our pain and suffering. On the cross, he took the punishment of sins past, present, and future upon himself. The buck stopped at the cross.
This is important to acknowledge because it corrects something that we, from our self-centered perspective, fail to grasp. Christ doesn’t share in our suffering, we share in his. God doesn’t enter into our pain, we enter into his.
In eternity, when we reflect on our earthly experience, we will view our suffering with a truer and more accurate perspective. No signs of our sin and of our suffering will be seen on our bodies, but they will be visible on his. The scars on his wrists, and the wound in his side, will forever remind us that suffering hit its mark.
"I want to know Christ--yes, to know the power of his resurrection and to share in his sufferings..." (Philippians 3:10).
Lent Our Exodus From Winter
“And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.” — Mr. Beaver in C. S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Writing for the US Naval community publication THE LIGHTHOUSE, Lt. Baron Miller describes the Lenten season as our “exodus from winter”:
C. S. Lewis’ Narnia is a magical land that is always cold. The White Witch has kept Narnia under her spell, creating a permanent season of snow, ice and death. It was “always winter and never Christmas” in Narnia. That was until Aslan came back to bring freedom and “shake his mane.”
Like Jesus, Aslan the lion king represents freedom from death’s snare and release into joy. When Aslan is on the move in Narnia, winter begins to melt and life comes into bloom.
Lt. Miller concludes, “For us in the real world, Lent is very similar. Lent means ‘springtime,’ and it marks our exodus from winter into the dawn of spring. For us as Christ followers, Lent reminds us that Jesus is on the move and the joyous season of spring is here. He will provide for us a ‘crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and the garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair’ (Isaiah 60:3).
Legend of the Lenten Pretzel
The Legend of the Lenten Pretzel:
Legend has it that the modern pretzel is actually has its origin in ancient Lenten celebration. The established church at the time did not allow the eating of meat or dairy products during the observance of Lent. As such, people would make bread from a simple mixture of flour, water, and salt. As the legend unfolds, it is purported that a monk in a monastery was looking for a way to make use of the leftover scraps of dough that didn’t fit into the loaf pans. He wondered if he might not be able to use it to bless the hungry children to whom the monetary ministered.
His idea was to roll the dough scraps into long, thin ropes which he would then shape into the image of hands folded over the heart in prayer. He called them pretiolas (which means “little rewards” in Latin). He then distributed to them to the children in exchange for a recitation of a memorized prayer, explaining the pretrial’s shape and reminding the children to always pray and trust God.
While the legend has been around for centuries, there is no factual, historical evidence for it. Even so, the pretzel has become a traditional Lenten treat around the world.
Object lesson: Make a batch of pretzel dough enough for the number of children in your class. Have each child thoroughly wash their hand. Distribute lumps of dough on a large sheet of waxed paper to each child and guide them in rolling out their ropes and shaping them into a pretzel. Place them in the oven to bake as you explain the legend. This should open up lively conversation about Lent, the practice of “giving up” certain things (like meat or milk) to identify with Christ’s suffering, or the topic of growing closer to God through heartfelt prayer.
"Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity” (Joel 2:12-13).