Why did Jesus have to suffer so badly? Some think that Jesus physical torture was only part of His punishment for our sins. To some extent, this is true, but not all. At the same time, the torture Jesus underwent speaks more of the hatred and cruelty of humanity than it does of Gods punishment for sin. Satans absolute hatred of God and Jesus was surely a part of the motivation behind the relentless torture and abuse. The suffering heaped on Jesus is the ultimate example of the hatred and rage sinful man feels toward a holy God (Romans 3:10-18). Remember reading in Genesis 3:15 when God curses the serpent: And I will put enmity between you (the serpent) and the woman (Eve). And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heel... This first gospel is prophetic of the struggle and its outcome between your seed (Satan and unbelievers, who are called the Devils children in Jn 8:44)and her seed (Christ, a descendant of Eve, and those in Him), which began in the garden. In the midst of the curse passage, a message of hope shone forth...the womans offspring called He is Christ, *who will one day defeat the Serpent. Satan could only bruise Christs heel (cause him to suffer), while Christ will bruise Satans head (destroy him with a fatal blow).* Paul, in a passage strongly reminiscent of Ge 3, encouraged the believers in Rome, And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet (Ro 16:20). We as believers should recognize that we participate in the crushing of Satan because, along with our Savior and because of His finished work on the cross, we also are of the womans seed. Isaiah 52:14 declares, “Just as there were many who were appalled at Him—His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness.” Jesus suffered most severely throughout the trials, torture, and crucifixion (Mt 27; Mk 15; Lk 23; Jn 19). As horrible as His physical suffering was, it was nothing compared to the spiritual suffering He went through. Second Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus had the weight of the sins of the entire world on Him (1 Jn 2:2). It was sin that caused Jesus to cry out, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” (Mt 27:46). So, as brutal as Jesus physical suffering was, it was nothing compared to His having to bear our sins and die to pay the penalty for them (Ro 5:8). Isaiah predicts Jesus’ suffering in clear language: “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed” (Is 53:3, 5). Ps 22:14-18 is another powerful passage predicting the suffering of the Messiah: “I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within Me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of My mouth; you lay Me in the dust of death. Dogs have surrounded Me; a band of evil men has encircled Me, they have pierced My hands and My feet. I can count all My bones; people stare and gloat over Me. They divide My garments among them and cast lots for My clothing.”
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 22:09:38 +0000
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