CRS

Suffering - Our Response to Suffering and the Beauty of Suffering

len Alfred Ajibola - 06th February, 2019 @ 12:15 PM

Topics in CRS

Fruit of the Holy Spirit: Modesty and Continency Fruit of the Holy Spirit: Goodness, Longanimity and Mildness Characteristics of the new life in Christ New Life in Christ Concept of justification by faith The Supremacy of God Supremacy of God Lessons learnt from God's supremacy Jesus as the Living Bread explained Lessons learnt from Jesus' teaching as the Living Bread Why does suffering and pain exist? Forgiveness: Jesus' teaching on forgiveness and its importance What is Forgiveness? Jesus' teaching on forgiveness Jesus' teaching on giving The Prodigal Son, Moral lessons learnt Moral lessons learnt from the parable of the prodigal son Scheme of work, CRS, SS1, 1st Term Scheme of work, CRS, SS1, 2nd Term Scheme of work, CRS, SS1, 3rd Term Biblical account of Creation


Academic Questions in CRS

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The feeding of five thousand men with five loaves of bread and two fishes paved way for Jesus' teaching on _____.

  • A. The sermon on the mount

  • B. The living bread

  • C. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving

  • D. The prodigal son

  • E. The good samaritan

  • F. Giving

According to Christianity, Jesus Christ suffered for us all. As a result, Christians do not have to suffer on earth.

  • A. True

  • B. False

In the gospel of Matthew chapter 18 verse 21-35, Jesus tells what story?

  • A. The story of the prodigal son

  • B. The story of the good Samaritan

  • C. The story of the fig tree

  • D. The beatitudes

  • E. The story of the vineyard

  • F. The story of the unforgiving servant

What is Jesus' last word on the cross?

  • A. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing

  • B. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me

  • C. I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise

  • D. I am thirsty

  • E. It is finished

  • F. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit

With regards to giving, Jesus made the statement below:

Do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do this, you will have a reward from your Father in heaven.

  • A. True

  • B. False

At last, he came to his senses and said, 'All my father’s hired workers have more than they can eat, and here am I about to starve! I will get up and go back to my father and say, Father, I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired workers'. So he got up and started back to his father.

The above statement was made by the prodigal son when he took up a job in a distant country. What job was that?

  • A. Care of cattle

  • B. Care of sheep

  • C. Care of goats

  • D. Care of pigs

  • E. Care of cattle and sheep

  • F. Care of cattle and sheep and goats

The parable of the prodigal son is found in which of the following bible passages?

  • A. Matthew 15: 11-32

  • B. Mark 15: 11-32

  • C. Luke 15: 11-32

  • D. John 15: 11-32

  • E. None of the above

  • F. All of the above

Jesus was born specifically in _____.

  • A. Jerusalem

  • B. Bethlehem

  • C. Nazareth

  • D. Israel

  • E. Capernaum

  • F. Calvary



The beauty of suffering:

In all sincerity, No one enjoys suffering. Suffering brings pain. By our neural configuration, pain hurts. Nowadays, some women may choose to avoid pain by paying other women into delivering their very own baby. Such women (who delivers another's baby) are called surrogate mothers.

Meanwhile, understand that surrogate mothers are hired perhaps because a woman finds it difficult to conceive or a pregnant woman with child is unwilling to undergo the pains of labor.

Please read on consequences of Adam and Eve's disobedience here


I have heard about mercy killing by doctors, a process termed euthanasia. Euthanasia is often done by medics in an attempt to end the pain of a suffering person by terminating his or her life in a soothing manner. However, according to the laws of christianity, this act isn't right because the process of terminating one's life has no justification, even in the context of freeing the deceased from their intense sufferings and pains. To make matters worse, some may take their lives by committing suicide as a result of some sufferings which they were passing through at that point in time.

Please read on the leadership qualities of Joseph that has transformed lives here


All around us, we see sufferings and the pains associated with it. We feel for these people and may even lend a helping hand in order to get them out of their pains. For this reason, It may therefore stand to reason that suffering in itself is generally bad.

Well, the truth is, not all sufferings are bad. In fact, some sufferings are very good for us. All we need do is to identify and embrace them, while also asking God's help and direction on them.


The point I'm passing across is this: 'There is a glorious hope that accompanies your suffering', and that's the beauty of whatever suffering you're going through at this moment.

You can check out some powerful motivational quotes here

Beauty of Suffering - Len Academy

 

To perfectly comprehend the beauty of suffering, we need to first understand why pains and sufferings exist.

Please read more on the introduction to suffering and pain here.

 

Our response to suffering

Whether we like it or not, suffering is inevitable because we live on earth (and not heaven). For this reason, we shall all suffer here on earth at one point or another in our lifetime. However, the most important question is:

  • How do we respond to suffering?
  • Do you see opportunities in suffering?
  • Do you realize the fact that the beauty of suffering can transform your world for the best if properly managed?

Nothing good comes easy. Whenever you read the profile of any great man or woman, a common factor that binds them all is pain, suffering, dedication and hardwork among others. Jesus himself is an excellent example of one who suffered intensely in atonement for mankind's sins. He embraced the cross of suffering and eventually died on it.

We should learn to embrace the good suffering; rather than resist it. In fact, some people are willing to undergo suffering for the good cause. To this end, they are ready to live and die for the truth even when it demand their lives.


The summary of this article points to the fact that there are some sufferings which we must embrace. If we take a deep and reasonable thought into this kind of sufferings, we will discover the beauty present within them.

The image below speaks volumes on the beauty of suffering. Notice that the world sees more of the victory (and not the suffering) as depicted by the image.

Beauty of Suffering - Len Academy


The beauty Jesus' suffering was the fact that he conquered death through it (his suffering). To this end, you and I can enjoy a life of eternal happiness with him if we live according to his words.

Our world will change for the better the moment we start accepting suffering as a part of our existence on earth. However the severity of our suffering, we should also endeavor to aid others (practically) through their sufferings, while also praying for them.


The points below are noteworthy concerning suffering and its beauty:

  • The beauty of Jesus' suffering is the many that will be saved by his blood.

  • Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb.

  • I don't believe I have special talents, I have persistence. After the first failure, second failure, third failure, I kept trying - Carlo Rubbia, Nobel price winning physicist

  • Great success is built on failure, frustration, even catastrophy - Sumner Redstone

  • Think about the suffering a woman in labour would pass through but after that comes the bigger joy of seeing her baby.

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Amazing facts in CRS

Salvator Mundi - Len Academy

Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci is the most expensive painting in the world. It is valued at 450.3 Million Dollars.

This painting depict Jesus Christ with his right hand raised in blessing, and his left hand holding an orb

There are a total of 188 named women in the Bible

Mahershalalhashbaz is the longest word in the Bible

The shortest verse of the Bible is John 11:35. It reads:

Jesus wept

 

The longest verse in the bible is Esther 8:9. It reads:

Then were the king’s scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language

The last word in the Bible is 'Amen'.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen

Revelation 22:21

The shortest verse in the bible is found in John chapter 11 verse 35. It reads:

Jesus wept

If you translate 'Jesus' from Hebrew directly to English, the correct translation will be 'Joshua'. The name Jesus was actually a translation from Hebrew, to Greek, to Latin and finally, English


Notable points in CRS

The parable of the prodigal son as narrated by Jesus himself is one that shows God's incomprehensible mercy and love. This parable is present in the gospel of Luke 15: 11-32.

Jesus began by saying:

There was once a man who had two sons. The younger one said to him, 'Father, give me my share of the property now'. So the man divided his properties between his two sons.

Luke 15: 11-12

From the above passage, it is quite clear that the younger brother had lost interest in the family's affairs. He must have pondered in his heart the sweetness of complete independence on a life of financial abundance.

To actualize his thoughts, he had the effrontery to go to his father to request for his inheritance even though his father is fully alive and active.

Please read a detailed explanation of the parable of the prodigal son and its moral lessons here

Adam and Eve disobeyed God while in the Garden of Eden. Below are the consequences of Adam and Eve's disobedience:

  • All God's creature became guilty of original sin.

  • Human perfection was lost.

  • God's judgement was pronounced on the snake, woman and man.

  • Chaos and disorderliness came upon earth.

  • Suffering, pain and death was introduced into the world.

  • The first prophesy was made. 

  • Clothing was made.

  • Paradise was temporarily lost.

  • Their disobedience brought about the relevation of Jesus Christ.

  • Please read a detailed explanation on the consequences of Adam and Eve's disobedience here

Wise men from the east came to visit the infant king. Upon their arrival, they saw the child with his mother Mary. They knelt down and worshiped the infant (Jesus).

Notice that the bible recorded that the wise men knelt down and worshipped the infant (Jesus), according to Matthew 2:11.

Only God can be worshiped. Jesus is always God, even as a baby.

It is important to state that Jesus remained God at every point in his physical existence, even when he was in the womb of the virgin; throughout his life on earth, death on the cross and eventual resurrection.

The wise men from the east opened their treasures and presented the infant Jesus with three significant gifts. These are gold, frankincense and myrrh.

  • Gold represents a symbol of Jesus' kingship. Jesus is the King of kings, even at birth and throughout eternity.

  • Frankincense represents a symbol of Jesus' divinity and a sign of worship. Only God can be worshipped; and as such, Jesus is fully God.

  • Myrrh represents a symbol of Jesus' death. Jesus is truly man, and this is why he was able to suffer and die on the cross.

Please read on the early years of Jesus here.

God created human beings for the following reasons:

  1. To know Him

  2. To love Him

  3. To serve Him

  4. To be happy with Him forever

Our first parent, Adam and Eve enjoyed a life of complete happiness before they committed sin. They never knew what pain nor sorrow was until they disobeyed God. In short, both were perfect beings until they committed the sin of disobedience against God.

Disobedience may simple be defined as the failure to obey rules, command or someone in authority.

Adam and Eve were the first human beings to disobey God.

Please read more on the biblical account of first human disobedience here