Why is the suffering of Christ crucial for believers?

The suffering of Christ is central to the Christian faith as it underscores the gravity of sin and the extent of divine love. Hebrews 2:10 explains that it was fitting for God, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering. This suffering is not in vain; it achieves our salvation and enables us to approach God with confidence. Moreover, it allows us to empathize with Christ's human experience in suffering, as He entered into our struggles and trials. In Psalm 69, we see a portrayal of that suffering, showing that Christ's agony was a fulfillment of Scripture and an essential aspect of God's redemptive plan.