SUCCESSFUL SUFFERER SERIES
From the time that I was a child, I have known and accepted Jesus’ suffering and dying on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for my sins. However, reading about it and hearing sermons time and time again, did not prepare me for what I saw in The Passion of the Christ. For the first time, my eyes and heart were fully captivated by the physical suffering that Jesus endured. His bloody body that hung on the cross contradicted the images that had permeated my world up until that point. My Suffering Savior endured all of that pain just for me (and you, too).
Recently, I began to understand what Christ may have gone through emotionally. Once again, the words on the paper did not do justice for the pain that He may have suffered. I had been able to compartmentalize Christ’ experiences. If a close friend betrayed me, I knew that Jesus had experienced the same thing with Judas. However, I realize that Jesus was betrayed by the entire world. Jesus was surrounded by two types of people: those who actively sought His demise, and those who failed to stand up for Him. At the most difficult point in His life, Jesus did not have anyone to emotionally support Him. He was left to face this trial all by Himself.
In the upcoming blog posts, we will explore the roles of various individuals and groups that lead to Jesus being emotionally abandoned during His time of suffering. This was the Father’s will for Christ. Although it was not a surprise to Him, Jesus was still fully human (therefore, fully emotional). This is not an opportunity to bash those who preceded us but to hopefully relate it to our own experiences and find the hope, comfort, and forgiveness that is provided to us.
“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” (John 12:27-28a)
To continue this series, read BETRAYED: RELIGIOUS LEADERS.
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Copyright 2021 T.L. Lockley. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
