Facing the reality of suffering in this world, we question ourselves about the relationship between a benign God and human suffering. How to conciliate God with suffering? Where is God in suffering?
In order to reflect on this problem, we use the work The Crucified God by the German theologist, Jürgen Moltmann, as reference. We will start by clarifying the biographical aspect of Moltmann’s theology. Next, we will contextualize and present the essential content of the work The Crucified God. We will conclude by discussing the acceptance of the work and its contribution to the problem of ‘God and human suffering’.
Moltmann has revolutionized the concept of God by seriously viewing Jesus’ cross as a trinitarian event. There is a change from an ‘apathetic god’, incapable of suffering, to a ‘sympathetic God’, capable of suffering out of His fullness, that is, His love. Jesus’ cross reveals that suffering is in God because He is the Trinity and gets involved with man and his history. On Jesus’ Cross, God reveals Himself as a crucified God, a close and merciful God, Lord of life and the strength in the fight against all kinds of violence, death and suffering.