¶ … suffer is to live. Suffering makes up a large part of a person's life. In Nicholas Wolterstorff's Lament of a Son, a collection of quotes and anecdotes related to the author's experience with the premature loss of Eric, his son, the author provides a way of dealing with loss that is both inspiring and personal. What turned into a tragic mountain climbing accident, a father's journey to accepting a tragic loss turns into a voice for those mourning.
Mourning is a common occurrence for the living. People die every day and Kubler-Ross' five stages of grief outlines the process of mourning as well as helps give a better understanding of Wolterstorff's development after he lost his son. The five stages of grief are denial, anger, bargaining, preparatory grieving or depression, and acceptance. The first stage denial, is seen in how people are supposed to act after learning of Eric's passing. However, when Wolterstorff first hears the news of Eric's passing at 3:30 in the afternoon, that was when he experienced denial. The man on the phone had to tell him several times before he could grasp that Eric had passed.
Depression, the fourth stage, can be seen with Wolterstorff having dreams of being in a battlefield, finding mild solace reading books, and grieving alone, knowing his suffering is unique as is all suffering. However, in time he did begin to reach the fifth stage, acceptance, and in doing so began to find joy. It began with Wolterstorff realizing what Jesus meant as described in the New Testament and as he detailed in the story. "Not only is there a new day of peace coming. To those who mourn the absence of that is disclosed already the heart of God. Upon entering the company of the suffering, they discern the anguish of God" (Wolterstorff, 1987, p. 88). In seeing that God is suffering and eventually he will be able to be with Eric, he finds joy…
Furthermore it is with Isaiah that one first becomes acquainted with the idea that the Messiah would die. "And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth." The passage clearly predicts a Messianic figure who dies, in order to bring peace to the multitudes. "Out of the anguish of his
v. 9) I am the good shepherd" (10:11, 14) I am the resurrection and the life" (11:25) I am the way, and the truth, and the life" (14:6) I am the true vine" (15:1; cf. v. 5) It was John's responsibility to teach Christians that they can have eternal life. There was an order of the way that John taught: In Chapter One, Versus 1-4 John saw the proofs that Jesus was the son of God;
Jesus Christ Is the Central Figure of Christianity Who Was Born in Bethlehem, Judea sometime between 8 BC and 29 AD. The name "Jesus" is derived from a Greek rendering of the Hebrew name Joshua, while "Christ" is the Greek translation of the Hebrew mashiakh or Messiah, which was a title that was later made part of Jesus' proper name. Christians traditionally believe that Jesus is the incarnate Son of God,
" In this instance, the word revelation means "the communication of the knowledge of God" or "God's disclosure to humanity of Himself" (Baixeras, Internet). Therefore, if God had to reveal to Jesus His own knowledge, this indicates that Jesus was not an omniscient being, for as a prophet, his own revelations to common, ordinary men and women were made possible via some form of communication with God the Father. In conclusion,
" This means that God indeed hates humans because of the sins that we commit, and we do have to trust in God and in salvation, otherwise, we would be deemed to suffer an eternal torment in Hell. When Jesus Christ, He happened to save all of us unworthy human beings form the severity of God's wrath, which would have descended on us if this supreme sacrifice by Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is an inextricable part of my life. I have been a Christian all my life. Being raised in a Christian community has ensured that my faith does not waiver. The support of others in a community of Christians is a core component of the Bible. "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them," (Matthew 18:20)." Because of my community of
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