The Suffering of Christ by Guido Rocha

Explain how a Christian would use the example of Christ’s suffering to help them deal with painful situations. (7 marks)

Discovering the right way to behave through the example of Christ

Jesus’ main message was to show love and forgiveness to every one. When

questioned about the greatest commandments Jesus commented that

you should firstly love the ‘Lord your God’ but that second to this was to;

“Love your neighbour as you love yourself.”

His ultimate act of love was asking his ‘Father’ to forgive those that had

mocked, beaten and crucified him.

“Father forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23)

“And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” New Testament

Jesus is preaching in the temple when the Pharisees try to catch him out by bring an adulterous woman before him. Jesus does not condemn the woman for her sins but questions the behaviour of those that persecute her.

Jesus and the adulterous woman

No one is without sin and therefore no one can judge the actions of another before they have perfected their own behaviour. And ultimately only God has the right to judge our good and bad deeds but if a Christian has tried to live a good and honest life then he/she shall be judged fairly.

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after

me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Matthew 25:34)

When asked, “When did we see you hungry and feed you?” Jesus responds that for every time a person had fed or clothed another it was as if they had fed and clothed Jesus. These people would reach the Kingdom of Heaven for their charity and kindness.

The Sheep and the GoatsJesus is preaching in the temple and some of the listeners ask him who will gain entry into the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus replies that those on his right, the sheep, will for their acts of kindness but that those on his left, the goats, will be sent to hell for not recognising God in all humanity.

There are many examples of Jesus’ goodness and love for humanity in the bible and it is these teaching that help to guide the behaviour of a Christian. One of the main aims for a Christian is to follow the example of Jesus who taught that forgiveness was better then holding onto hatred, charity was better than greed and that all people were created equal in the eye of God and should be treated as such. By following the example of Christ a person can reach the Kingdom of Heaven.