He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

Isaiah 53:3

One of the most harmful things believers can do to one another is to compare the suffering of the average Christian to that of Christ. Often, this is done with the intention of bringing relief; “our suffering and pain is so small compared to the cross”. Just as frequently, the suffering servant passage in Isaiah is cited. But the cross is not all that is revealed in that passage. It also speaks to the grief, isolation and pain Jesus suffered at the hands of his fellow human beings!
Yes, the physical suffering of Jesus upon his crucifixion was immeasurable, but it the verse that matters to us day to day says that he suffered loss and pain exactly the same as we do. He had friends die and felt loss, he saw people betray him to his face, he felt emotional and spiritual pain.
Jesus is a God who understands our grief. While you were hurting, he knew how that felt.

Ethan Kirl