Definition of suffering

The question that we looked at concerning the priest was whether you can love Christ and watch Christians suffer? (Decisions define suffering)The priest expected suffering, but it was as if he expected it too much. Did he even know what suffering is?
   All this talk about suffering and I can't help but wonder do I even know what suffering is. Looking at Christ for example, God allowed his son to come and pay the penalty for our sin, because He loved us THAT much. Whoa! It seems to me that it is more of a thing of sacrifice. God sacrificed his son for us. Where does suffering come in to that? Well, Jesus suffered for us on the cross. It was a very brutal suffering.
  Bringing this back to the priest in Silence, he was watching Christians suffer and therefore had to make the decision on whether or not he could love Christ AND watch Christians suffer. The priest "denied himself" for a spiritual martyrdom. He sought to die, yet he sought this too much.
   So, what does it really mean to suffer? I feel like real suffering is what Christ did for us on the cross. Its the ultimate picture of him suffering for us. A martyr? Maybe yes, but it was a sacrifice Christ chose to make because he loved us so much.
   The priest's decision on whether or not you can love Christ and watch Christians suffer was more of a display of martyrdom and a sacrifice.
   I feel like I'm rambling now, I hope this makes a little sense.
  P.s i commented on Anna's "Pursuing Truth in the Most Unexpected Places"