Daily Devotional
God Took Suffering on Himself
“The other disciples therefore said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ So he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.’ And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.’ And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’”
John 20:25-28
April 23, 2025
Ponder This
I’ve spoken to some people who say, “I don’t believe in God anymore.” They say, “I just don’t want to have anything to do with God. I don’t believe in God. I can’t understand this matter of suffering.” They conclude, “If God is a God of love, and He loves me so much, yet He doesn’t do anything to relieve this suffering, then He must not have any power.” On the other hand, they say, “Well, if He has the power to do it but doesn’t do it, maybe He has no love.” Or then, they ask another question: “Maybe He doesn’t have any love. Maybe He doesn’t have any power. Maybe there is no God. Why do people suffer?” But there’s a bigger question than that. The question is not, “Why does God allow humans to suffer?” but “Why does God allow Himself to suffer?”
Have you ever thought about God as one who suffers? Have you ever thought about God as One who has pain? How did those scars get into the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ? Because of suffering! God has taken on suffering in the most complete and healing way, He has taken it on Himself so that we can be with Him.
- When have you encountered suffering that made you question God’s goodness? How did you respond?
- Why is it significant that we worship a suffering savior? What makes this easy to forget or neglect?
Practice This
Discuss with a mentor or pastor how a Christian should navigate the problem of suffering.
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