Nobody likes to go through tough times. That might be why humans invented the idea of the silver lining. Sure, suffering stinks, but sometimes good things come out of it. The author of Hebrews really dug this idea. Even though Jesus' death was horrific and painful, it had loads of plus sides—like the salvation of the entire world, for instance.
Questions About Suffering
- Why would the early Christians embrace the idea of suffering? Is there something appealing about casting yourself as the put-upon underdog in a fight?
- Did God send Jesus to Earth to suffer and die? Or was that just a side-effect of the experience?
- Can suffering be a good thing sometimes? Or is it always a downer?