Jesus’ sacrifice

“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” Hebrews 12,2 (NKJV)

From the garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus laid down His life for the salvation of mankind as it was the will of the Father, Jesus began to suffer many things. Jesus’ suffering was not purposeless. Everything He suffered was addressing a specific thing that man experiences.

Before then, the prophet Isaiah had prophesied about Jesus and His sufferings:

“He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53,2-5 NKJV)

The roman soldiers mockingly made a crown of thrones and put it on Jesus’ head from which He bled. This was Jesus’ offering to the judgment God had pronounced after Adam and Eve sinned: “… Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3,17-19 NKJV)

Before Adam and Eve sinned, things were not so. The garden was full of trees bearing fresh fruits. They had plenty to eat at all times.

Jesus became cursed by hanging on the cross. (Deuteronomy 21,22-23)

Jesus suffered separation from the Father because He had become sin. He cried out: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27,46) For the first time, the Father could not look at Jesus.

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” 2 Corinthians 8,9 (NKJV)

When He was on the cross, Jesus became thirsty and sour wine mingled with gall was given to Him (John 19, 28-29). That is being poor! Jesus was stripped naked and humiliated before everyone.

All these things Jesus has done for our sake so that we may not suffer them. Jesus bore our griefs and sorrows so that we may not but rather have His joy. He was ‘chastised’ for us to have peace. He was beaten until His body became like flesh for our healing. He was cursed for us to be blessed. God the Father will never forsake us because of Jesus. Jesus’ blood has guaranteed the forgiveness of all our sin. Because of Him, we are not enemies with God.

Child of God, determine that, for you, Jesus’ sacrifice will not be in vain!

Determine that you will have everything Jesus has suffered to give you.

Refuse to accept any situation that contradicts that.

The only suffering of the believer is when they are “sharing” in Christ’s sufferings that they may also share His glory (Romans 8,17). i.e. Suffering for the name of Jesus Christ.

^“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.” (1 Peter 4,12-16 NKJV)

Even in sharing in His sufferings, Jesus provides grace and power to endure in the wait of His glory. Suffering is not the end. The end is glory.

Jesus came to give us LIFE. And as believers, we should live it.

“For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11,36 (NKJV)