In my small group we are working our way through the book of Mark. Last night, we read Mark 14:27-52 and then discussed the questions: What do Jesus's references to prophesy in this passage tell us about Jesus's death? How does the cross help us to face suffering and injustice in our lives?
We worked through a lot of various ways that the cross helps, both ways that we have heard and think are trivial or dismissive and ways that we found more sincere or helpful. Being someone who asks questions rather than makes statements, I spent a good chunk of the discussion just writing questions that came to mind. I'll put some of them here with the hopes that you will offer your opinions/thoughts.
What do I think about the idea that "it is because we suffer that we need the cross"? or "It is because He suffered that we have the cross?
It is only through the cross that justice can come from suffering. Dos this relate to Jesus incarnate feeling the terminal nature of human life and providing an escape from the decay?
Can justice be considered one of the few universal virtues? Is it more universal than love? Intrinsically intertwined with love? Is justice love?
If Jesus had not entered into our suffering would salvation have been cheapened? Incomplete? Possible? Was suffering necessary for redemption (by His wounds we are healed...)
Is suffering necessary? If so, does that make it somehow not evil?
What do you think?
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