Suffering and The Cross
Jesus on trial. We will see:
o The religious reaction.
o Peter’s reaction.
o Judas’ reaction.
o The government’s reaction.
o The people’s reaction.
o The soldier’s reaction.
Each of these reactions could be, and perhaps at another time, will be, probed. Today however, through all that is taking place, I must not lose Jesus.
The point of the Gospel is to proclaim the Good News of God in and through the Person of Jesus Christ—therefore I want to focus on Jesus.
When I do, I see:
o The religious reaction – is not merely rejection, but murder.
o Peter’s reaction – is denial, abandonment, and disgust with himself.
o Judas’ reaction – is horror at his own betrayal.
o The government’s reaction – is one, that in their attempt to merely make “Him go away”, becomes the instrument of his death.
o The people’s reaction – is one of a mob, easily distracted and controlled by others.
o The soldier’s reaction – is callous ridicule.
I see all these same reactions today.
That day, Jesus faced utter rejection and abandonment, by the those who represent his faith, by the government, by everyone, including his closest friends.
He will, in a few hours, in the midst of excruciating pain, look down and see his mother and a few others. For now though, he is alone.
Today, He still faces utter rejection and abandonment.
Pondering this point is important for us. Christians are quick to say, “Jesus knows your pain, he has experienced it all.” It sounds cliché. I find while it is true, it often does not help others when they are in pain.
However, by me pondering this point now, I am planting this deep truth deeply in me. So that, when I am in pain, I will already know that my Savior has endured worse—and endured it for me.
Suffering is terrible. Suffering in isolation is even worse. Jesus knows this suffering. Perhaps I too often rationalize Jesus’ suffering by thinking something like, “Well, yes it was terrible, but he knew it was to save the world from sin.”
What a ridiculous thing to think of say. First, the reality that he is bearing the weight of world’s sin upon himself makes his extreme pain unfathomable to understand. There has never been pain like it experienced by any human. Second, he is human. He is feeling the pain, and the utter isolation, with every sinew and nerve.
Jesus knows pain: physical, emotional, and spiritual.
To think, hours earlier he was singing, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it…O Lord, save us; O Lord, grant us success.” And “Give thanks to Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
I bring up what he was singing because one of the challenges of suffering is looking back and perhaps thinking I was naïve to trust God. To go down that road is exactly what Satan wants. He wants me and you to think God has abandoned us in our suffering.
Jesus was already suffering when he was singing. He had already been betrayed by Judas.
Which means what? It means Jesus knows the Father has not, and does not, abandon us in our suffering.
Truly, Jesus, God-come-to-earth, knows our pain (Hebrews 4:14-16). Truly, God is with us in our suffering.
When you suffered in the past, were you able to stay connected to God? If you are suffering now, are you able?