The following has only been slightly adapted from Jurgen Moltmann’s The Crucified God.  The content is his.  I think it is a powerful reminder of the significance of the cross as God’s participation in the suffering of humanity.

WHEN GOD BECAME MAN

When God became a man he entered into our limited, finite situation. Not only did he enter into it, descend into it, be he also accepted it and embraced the whole of our existence with his being.

When God became a man, he did not become a spirit so that we must soar to the realm of the spirit in order to participate in God.

When God became a man,  he did not merely become the covenant partner of an elect people so that we must belong to his people through circumcision and obedience to the covenant in order to enter into his fellowship.

When God became a man, he lowered himself and accepted the whole of our existence without limits and conditions, so that each of us may participate in him with the whole of his life.

When God became a man, he not only entered into our finitude but in his death on the cross entered into the situation of our god-forsakenness.  

When God became a man, he not die the natural death of a finite being, but the violent death of the criminal on the cross., the death of complete abandonment by God. 

When God became a man, he suffered the abandonment and rejection of God the Father.

When God became a man, he did not become a religion, so that we may participate in him by having corresponding religions thoughts and feelings to God. 

When God became a man, he did not become a law, so that we could only participate in him through obedience to a rule.

When God became a man, he did not become an ideal, so that we achieve community in him through constant striving. 

No, when God became a man, he humbled himself and took upon himself the eternal death of the godless and the god-forsaken, so that all the godless and godforsaken can experience communion with him. 

~ Adapted from Jurgen Moltmann

 The Crucified God, Kindle loc 5514