"He sustaineth us within Himself in love; and travailed, unto the full time that He would suffer the sharpest throes and the most grievous pains that ever were or ever shall be; and died at the last. And when He had finished, and so borne us to bliss, yet might not all this make full content to His marvellous love; and that sheweth He in these high overpassing words of love: If I might suffer more, I would suffer more."
Julian of Norwich (Ch. 60)
If Christ gave birth to us through the resurrection, then the suffering of Christ on the cross can be seen as birth pangs as Christ labored to bring us forth into new life. When humanity fell into delusion and sin, God did not abandon these beloved created children. Instead, Christ kept us and sustained us within a womb of love, continually carrying humanity within until the time came for humanity's new birth. No matter how much pain a mother goes through to bring her child into the world, she forgets that pain when she sees her newborn child, and she says that all that pain was worth it, that she would have gone through even more pain just to have her precious child with her, alive and well. And in the same way Christ our Mother says that all the pain was worth it to bring us into new birth, alive and well. Christ was willing to do whatever was necessary, was willing to endure whatever suffering was needed, to bring us into the freedom, joy and fullness of resurrection life. Christ willingly endured all the suffering of the cross even to the point of death, looking forward to the joy that would come from it. And that joy is humanity, you and I! One look at us, the cherished and precious newborns cradled in those loving and everlasting arms, and Christ declares, "It was worth it! You are worth it, my dear darlings!"
"A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world."
John 16:21 (NIV)
"Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation.."
Hebrews 12:2 (TPT)
A Prayer: Knowing You are joyful over me - like a mother is joyful over her newborn - makes me know I am wanted, I am loved, and I am Your very own child!