Was Jesus in human terms a failure?
He was hated by the Romans and by many Jews of the time. Perhaps even Jesus' family and followers didn't fully understand him.
Most poignantly one could argue that Jesus died believing he had been forsaken by God and had failed at his divinely appointed mission.
But then the instrument of death and despair -- the cross -- became a symbol of resurrection and new life.
What does that tell us about the quality of patience or submission, so prevalent in many religions?
Putting up with the limitations imposed on us in life, (redundancy, sickness, thwarted ambition) is not easy, especially for those raised in the qualities of fighting back whatever the odds.
It begs the question, “Is enduring a kind of negative virtue?”