Final answer:
Understanding Jesus's suffering in the gospels involves examining the Passion narratives, considering varying interpretations and representations, and recognizing the dual nature of Jesus's experience as both divine and human.
Step-by-step explanation:
To understand Jesus's suffering at the end of the gospels, we must look at the accounts of his Passion, which refer to the events leading up to and including his crucifixion. The gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—offer both similar and unique perspectives of these events.
The portrayal and emphasis on Jesus's suffering, however, vary in different interpretations and artworks throughout history.
Nancy's perspective highlights a depiction of Jesus that focuses more on his divine nature, recognizing minimal physical suffering, whereas later representations, such as those influenced by the Franciscans, emphasize his humanity by showing Jesus experiencing profound physical pain, as in the Röttgen Pietà.
The Passion narratives in the gospels provide a cohesive understanding that Jesus's suffering is not only physical but also spiritual, as he takes on the role of savior or messiah—fulfilling a central prophecy in Jewish tradition.
His crucifixion and the events leading up to it are crucial elements for comprehending the comprehensive message of hope, salvation, and forgiveness that he embodied and delivered to humanity.
Ultimately, understanding Jesus’s suffering in the gospels involves considering both the spiritual significance of his sacrifices and the human experience of pain and hardship that he endured, aligning with the belief that God comprehends the pains of being human.