to suffer with

a caveat:

i wrote this post after church, but then read kira's blog and felt mine an insignificant imitation. however, after thinking on it today, i decided to post it anyway.

today at church we stood outside with palm branches in hand, singing hosanna, and i hated it. to identify with the crowd mentality, the crowds who followed Jesus in his popularity and a mere week later joined with the jeering crowd saying "crucify him", made me cringe. i hate it, yet find it necessary to admit that this is me. too often i praise God when His gifts seem abundant, but when my person is at risk, i too have fled and failed to give voice to this man who has brought healing to me and to many i know.

in the sermon, seth illuminated the word "passion" for me, for us. even with mel gibson's movie titled "the passion of the Christ", and the week before easter often referred to as "passion week"...i still never really grasped it. but today "passion" has come alive for me. this kind of passion that means suffering. and from this suffering he comes to me.

compassion = to suffer with.

a man of many sorrows, acquainted with our grief: Jesus.
he suffers with us.