The Things Which He Suffered

If you had a loved one or friend that suffered many things in order to benefit and help you out, I'm sure you would be very thankful and thoughtful towards them.  The things which the Lord Jesus Christ suffered for sinners is beyond our natural understanding and comprehension.  His suffering Love was especially for me.  He was wounded for my transgressions, He was bruised for my iniquities, the chastisement of my peace was upon Him, and with His stripes I am healed.  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down His life for His enemies.

Jesus suffered in His home life, when His own brethren did not believe in Him.  He suffered from the religious crowd, for He was shamefully slandered by them and called everything from a bastard to a devil.  The religionists mocked and jeered Jesus even while He was dying on the Cross and taking His last few breaths.  He suffered to the bitter end for your sake.  Christ suffered in poverty sore, for He had no where to lay His head at times. Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. He suffered from His own disciples, for they forsook Him, denied Him, and betrayed Him.  He suffered from Satan when He was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days, and all through His life.

Christ must needs have suffered to answer for my sins' punishment.  He suffered the most shameful and disgraceful mode of execution - He suffered greatly at Gethsemane, Gabbatha, and Golgotha - agony, sweat, blood, mocking, tears, shame, nails, grief, thorns, spit, scorn, and the Cross.  All that for me?!  It behooved Christ to suffer.  He suffered the bitterness of sin and death, so we could enjoy the sweetness of eternal life.  Think of Jesus dying all alone on a Cross bearing your sins in His own body and becoming Sin and a Curse for your sake.  Consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself.  His suffering should touch our gratitude and love every day.  We should not let our hearts grow cold or our service mechanical.  Holy Spirit, please melt my cold heart and give new life to my service.

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.  Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate.  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.  Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.  For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.