In the article, "The Mystery of Suffering: How Should I Respond?" Kenneth R. Overberg identifies 3 important points about Jesus and suffering. These points include: Jesus resisted and eliminated suffering, Jesus rejected suffering as punishment for sin, and Jesus trusted a compassionate, present God. Jesus resisted and eliminated suffering and healed those in need of his care. Jesus was not discriminatory and helped any person suffering until they were healed. Jesus rejected suffering as punishment for sin by seeing the good in all people and giving each person an endless amount of chances. Jesus does not want any person to suffer for their sins, but, instead confess the sins and build a stronger relationship with Him. Jesus trusted a compassionate, present God because He knew that God put him on this earth to save our sins, and He knew He needed to follow this mission. Jesus never questioned God's orders because his faith and love for God are insurmountable.
The two traditional interpretations of Jesus' suffering, death and resurrection are "A Theology of Atonement/Ransom" and "A Theology of Incarnation". In the practices of sacrifice and atonement, Hebrews believed that the blood of the sacrificed animal symbolized the life of the person or community and pouring the blood on the altar was a symbolic gesture reuniting life with God. The sacrifices were an expression of the people's desire for reconciliation and union with God. This interpretation does not sound like something God would make us do in order to form union and obtain reconciliation from Him. "A Theology of Incarnation" is a more religious approach rooted in the Christian tradition. Incarnation is God's first thought, the original design for all creation and God shares life and love in a unique and definitive way. I agree with "A Theology of Incarnation" because in this God is seen as gracious and sharing life and love in creation and in the incarnation.
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