For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. (Hebrews 2.10)

Jesus is the author of our salvation. As Christians we readily agree that Jesus created the salvific bridge that brings us face to face with God the Father. What becomes more difficult when we stop to reflect is the means by which he composed that bridge of salvation. It is difficult, in our hunger for comfort, to receive Jesus as the author of our salvation because He generated our salvation through suffering.

We kneel before the cross but do we truly recognize his suffering? Jesus did not leap to the cross and, in a moment, die. He endured countless hours of beating and abuse at the hands of men just like you and I. He suffered the humiliation of watching his closest followers betray Him in His time of greatest need. He suffered over decades by the emptying of Himself to step down into our sin-broken abuse of His creation.

In His suffering He is united to us through His humanity, and through His suffering we are now united through His perfect salvation with the Father. Can we truly fathom the love of our Lord Jesus, the author of our salvation who knew the beginning, the end and the excruciating middle of the story? From the eternal word of His mouth Jesus spoke into existence our salvation through His suffering; and by His passion we have been brought into redeemed relationship with God! We can rest assured that our personal stories—beginning, end and middle—are being guided by our Divine Author toward glory.

Praise you Jesus, the author of my salvation. I weep at your suffering and thank you for not holding back from it for my sake.