In reality, the Christian movement was founded upon and birthed through suffering and persecution. As much as anything, the task of the Gospel writers was to recount the sufferings of Jesus, especially his death, burial, and resurrection. While the redemptive work at the cross was the basis for Christ’s saving work on behalf of humanity, Mark remembers that Jesus’ suffering directly led to the faith of a Roman centurion who declared, “Truly, this man was the Son of God.”2 In a letter to Corinthian