“The Ministry of Bearing” (Part Two)

Let’s continue Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s description of “The Ministry of Bearing”. As we do, please notice how the mandate to bear the burdens of our brothers and sisters in Jesus is founded in the cross of Jesus…

The Christian…must bear the burden of a brother. He must suffer and endure the brother. It is only when he is a brother that another person is really a brother and not merely an object to be manipulated. The burden of men was so heavy for God Himself that He had to endure the Cross. God verily bore the burden of men in the body of Jesus Christ.

But he bore them as a mother carries her child, as a shepherd enfolds the lost lamb that has been found. God took men upon Himself and they weighted Him to the ground, but remained with them and they with God. In bearing with men God maintained fellowship with them.

It is the law of Christ that was fulfilled in the Cross. And Christians must share in this law. They must suffer their brethren, but, what is more important, now that the law of  Christ has been fulfilled, they can bear with their brethren (Life Together, 100-101).