The Lord Sanctified Suffering in His Passion and Sanctified Death by His Death

4 April 19900 Comments

The lecture explains that the Lord Jesus sanctified all elements of human life by sharing in them: He sanctified suffering in His Passion, sanctified death by His death, sanctified the body and human nature and everything attached to it. The central idea is that Christ’s presence in every human experience transforms it into a means of holiness and salvation.

Main Points

Christ sanctified trials and sufferings: He made suffering a reason for joy and union with God, and gave persecution and martyrdom a salvific meaning (like the martyrs of the Church who rejoiced in sufferings).
He sanctified death: by turning death from punishment and end into a transition to eternal life; death became a bridge, not annihilation.
He sanctified the body and human nature: in the Incarnation the body became a means to worship God and serve the spirit, therefore the body is not evil but a blessing.
He sanctified ages and life-states: holiness runs through childhood, youth, and old age, and through chastity, marriage, service, and contemplation — every stage of life is holy if it walks in Christ.
He sanctified places and things: the cross, the land, the waters, and even the places of His birth and steps all acquired sanctity by His touch.
He sanctified the sacraments and worship: baptism, chrismation, the Eucharist, the priesthood, marriage and all the sacraments were sanctified by His practice and command.
He sanctified poverty, toil, and work: the poverty Christ lived and the toil in service became a blessing and a reward is given according to everyone’s labor.

Spiritual and Educational Dimensions (from a Coptic Orthodox faith perspective)

Emphasis on the Incarnation as a comprehensive work of salvation: God did not refrain from human nature but entered it to strengthen it, sanctify it, and restore to it the lost divine image.
A call to treat sufferings, death, and daily work as means of sanctification: we must not view trials as purely evil but as opportunities for union with Christ and to receive reward.
The ecclesial life as a sacred domain: the church, icons, sacraments, and holy places are dedicated to the Lord alone and must be lived according to Christ’s sanctification.
A practical model for spiritual life: Christ combined service and contemplation, teaching that holiness of life is not a single pattern but many forms that serve human salvation.

Practical Application

Remember that every painful experience can be transformed into a means of encountering God through prayer, patience, and grace.
Sanctify the body and daily actions by the work of the Spirit and by participation in the sacraments and liturgies.
Set apart times and occasions for the Lord — like Holy Week — and refrain from worldly works in them as a teaching of holiness.