The path of suffering that Joseph travelled was used by God for a great purpose. With Joseph imprisoned as a slave in Egypt alongside servants of Pharaoh, God gave Joseph an opportunity to bring Pharaoh a prophecy, which enabled life to be preserved through the famine. Joseph's suffering led to his being made second-in-command to Pharaoh himself, and led to him having sons that were adopted by his father, a position of glory in the country and in the family. And God gave Joseph the grace to SEE this, to recognize God's work behind his suffering, to see the greater purpose it served, and to forgive his brothers for their role in starting his path of suffering. The encounter ends with Joseph providing a new life in Goshen to his family, and weeping on the neck of Benjamin, his favourite brother, and only brother-of-the-same-mother.
The path of suffering that Jesus travelled was ALSO used by God for a great purpose. With Jesus' willingness to become a sacrifice on the cross, God instituted a new covenant with humanity in Jesus' blood, which enabled sins to be forgiven, and the invitation to eternal life to be received. Jesus' suffering led to his being raised from the dead on the third day, becoming the first fruits of the resurrection, and the name that is above every other name. Will Jesus be bitter with us sinners, who made his death necessary in the eyes of God the Father? In the gospel of John, Jesus' first words to his disciples, post-resurrection, are as follows: “Peace be with you.” Not bitterness, not resentment, but peace.
Jesus' words to us today have a similar ring to those spoken by Joseph: “God has made me the way, the truth, and the life; come to me and do not delay! You shall settle in the many dwelling places of my Father's house, and you shall be near me.” And when the time comes for Jesus to be revealed to us, the encounter will START with Jesus providing us a new life of resurrection, and it would not be surprising for him to weep on our necks, as we in humble gratitude and loving adoration, fall and weep on his....
Heavenly Father, help us not to become bitter when we receive a tiny taste of the suffering Jesus endured on our behalf, and help us to forgive those who mistreat us, in Jesus name.... Amen.