If I am ever tempted to think that while on earth You endured suffering in a buffered way because You are God, I need only to visit the garden and Your cross walk. You asked three times for the cross not to happen. Three times!! Not once and then moved on in holy eagerness-but three times You pleaded for another way. When it was heartbreakingly denied, You entrusted Yourself to the Father’s will and were able to go forth victoriously, heroically and miraculously to accomplish the impossible. Another glimpse of Your complete humanity- a man had to help Your broken human body carry Your cross. You collapsed, bloodied and bruised, and required the arms of a mere man to lift the heavy cross.

If I am ever tempted to think that somehow You were shielded from the depth of human suffering, I need only to dwell in these accounts. You experienced our darkest moments and indeed are the sympathetic, understanding High Priest of Hebrews 4 and John 11. You sit and weep with us in our pain but then enable us to victoriously and miraculously experience the impossible.