Jacob Litchfield | Thailand
Buddhism teaches that “All is suffering.” Every part of life has an element of suffering. The goal is to live in a way that causes the least amount of suffering for oneself, others, and creation. Even a lot of what is defined as sin is based on how much suffering it causes. Suffering is to be escaped through living a moral life, leading up to entering Nirvana.
As Christians, we would agree that suffering is not good and we like to avoid it as well. However, we have an example in Jesus who humbled Himself to take on our weaknesses and suffer as a man. Jesus did not seek to escape suffering but chose to be incarnated so He could enter into our suffering. Since He experienced pain like us, He can be “touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him and because of His love for us.
As God’s children, we understand that sometimes obedience to God and living in this fallen world requires us to go through suffering. But when we do, the joy and peace of the Lord triumphs and helps us to be conformed more to the image of Jesus. Suffering was not part of God’s plan when He said creation was “very good.” But we have One who is acquainted with our griefs and sorrows and makes all things work for good to those who love Him. He overcame sin and death through what He endured on the cross and someday He will make all things new. This is our hope: Jesus is with us in every unpleasant circumstance and He is touched by our weakness. Through Him our suffering can be turned into something beautiful. The Buddha claimed to point to a way to escape suffering and enter nothingness or emptiness. Jesus embraced suffering and showed us how to overcome pain and death with peace and joy. Rather than offering emptiness at the end of the journey, Jesus offers an eternity of joyful fellowship with Him.
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Jacob & Naomi Litchfield
