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The Suffering of Jesus
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April 08, 2012 |
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 "But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him." (Isaiah 53:5-6)
God has shown His works to accomplish His providence to gain His true children. Among all of these works the most important is that Jesus came to the earth in flesh, endured many things and He suffered crucifixion to complete the way for human salvation.
If we have spiritual realization of the providence of the cross, we can't help but be touched by the love of God. We will also come to have true faith and receive answers to all problems including poverty and diseases. Most importantly, in the end we will possess the heavenly kingdom. Now let's look into the providence embedded in sufferings Jesus took from the time of His birth to His death on the cross.
1. Jesus was laid in a manger to redeem men who are no better than beasts
As written in Philippians 2:6, Jesus, the Son of God existed in the form of God, but came to the earth in flesh. He is the Master of all things. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Yet, He was born in a stable and laid in a manger which is a box from which animals eat their food. Then, why did Jesus, the Son of God, have to be born in a stable and laid in a manger?
This is because He came to the earth to become the bread of life for men who are no better than beasts. It was the providence that showed the love of God for us. Ecclesiastes 3:18 says, "I said to myself concerning the sons of men, God has surely tested them in order for them to see that they are but beasts." Why does this verse say that men are but beasts although they are also called the 'lords of all creation'?
Because of the disobedience of the first man, Adam, mankind could no longer communicate directly with God. Following instigation by the enemy devil and Satan they came to be but beasts. In that way, sin entered mankind and they lost both the image of God and the duty of man. That's why so many are no better than beasts though they are called the lords of all creation.
Jesus came to this earth to redeem and save men who are but animals. There are some animals that live by eating food provided in a manger. Jesus came to men who are just like such animals and became the 'bread of life' for them. He also taught the truth to us so that we could fulfill the duty of men and enter the heavenly kingdom.
2. Jesus lived a life in poverty to redeem mankind from poverty
From the time He was born in a stable, Jesus lived in poverty during His entire lifetime. John 3:35 says, "The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand." Colossians 1:16 reads, "For by Him all things were created." Namely, Jesus is the King of kings, the Lord of lords, and the Master of all things. Thus, everything in both the heavens and the earth is the Lord's. He had such great power that He could do anything. He even fed five thousand men with five loaves and two fish (Matthew chapter 14).
But Jesus lived a life of poverty during His whole life. Sometimes He was hungry because He had nothing to eat. He had to sleep in the field because He had no place to lay His head. Then, why did He have to suffer poverty even though He is the Son of God who is God the Almighty?
2 Corinthians 8:9 reads, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich." This means that Jesus, who was rich, accepted and took the way of poverty. By doing so, He blessed those who believe in Him to become rich.
Being poor itself is not a sin, but it is still a part of the curse that fell on us due to Adam's sin. Jesus redeemed us from our poverty by living a life in poverty on behalf of us and let us become rich. (3 John 1:2, Deuteronomy chapter 28)
3. Jesus was scourged by the whip to redeem mankind from diseases and infirmities
There should be the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of the original sin inherited from Adam and the self-committed sins. It is written that here is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood. Those who commit sin will fall into eternal fire of Hell just as recorded in the Bible, "The wages of sin is death."
This indicates what the spiritual meanings are implied in Jesus being whipped and shedding blood. He was whipped and shed blood in order to redeem us from our infirmities and diseases.
Exodus 15:26 reads, "If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer."
Through the verse, we came to know diseases come upon men when they don't listen to the Word of God and practice righteousness. Namely, disease results from commission of sins. Therefore, the problem of sin has to be resolved before receiving healing. To solve it, someone who had no sin had to pay the price of sin. Then, mankind could be set free from the pains of their diseases.
To pay the price of men's sin Jesus was whipped all over His body. Just as said in Matthew 8:17, Jesus Himself took our infirmities and carried away our disease by the shedding of His blood. When people believe in the contribution of the precious blood and profess their belief with their lips, they can be set free from all diseases and infirmities.
4. Jesus took the suffering of crucifixion to redeem mankind from all sins and evil
It was on account of us and our salvation that Jesus came to the earth and lived His life as He did to save us. His life was filled with the planting of God's love and the hope of heaven in the hearts of mankind. Also, He let many people know He is the Son of God through countless signs and amazing words of authority.
Nevertheless, the evilness of the Jews and the priests passed condemnation on Jesus saying that Jesus had blasphemed God and called Himself Christ. In the end, they brought Jesus to Pontius Pilate, who governed the Jewish areas, and asked him to have Jesus put to death. At that time, Pilate knew Jesus had no sin at all but He just had Him crucified on the cross out of fear of a possible rebellion.
In the end, the innocent Jesus was put to death, and Roman soldiers struck Him in the face and spit on Him. He was despised and humiliated. He also wore the crown of thorns pressed down on His head and He was flogged all over His body. He was scourged until all His body was torn and stained with blood. Then He bore the heavy wooden cross and He was flogged again as He made His way towards Golgotha where He would be crucified. His hands and feet were nailed through and He was hung on the cross under the scorching sun. He had to shed blood until death and He was extremely thirsty.
The soldiers divided up Jesus' outer garments and took the pieces. People cursed and mocked Jesus who was hung on the cross naked. Nevertheless, Jesus asked God to forgive their sins. But the cruel Roman soldiers pierced His side even after His death and He shed all His water and blood.
Jesus had no spot and no blemish at all, yet He took the sufferings that we were destined to receive. Through it all, the way of salvation was opened wide for us and it allowed for us to receive forgiveness of all our sins and enter the heavenly kingdom. As noted above, the suffering of Jesus and crucifixion on the cross contain the special providence of God.
Dear brothers and sisters,
Let us give thanks to the Lord who took the suffering of the cross to redeem us from our sins and gave a true life to us. I pray in the name of the Lord that you will live a holy and godly life.
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