Why
did Jesus Suffer?
I. The
things that He suffered
1.) For thirty three years He
suffered Temptation, the daily struggles against sin we endure--
Hebrew 4:15
"For we have not
an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but
was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
Hebrews 2:18
"For in that he
himself hath suffered being tempted, he
is able to succor them that are tempted."
**Jesus was like us because he experienced a full range of temptations
as a human being throughout his life. We can be comforted to know that he faced
temptation-he can sympathize with us, but give us the way out. Showing that
just as he has overcame the world, we can too. **
John 16:33
"These things I
have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall
have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
2.) He experienced rejection by
His own hometown--
Luke 4:16
"And he came to
Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into
the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read."
Luke 4:28-30
"And all they in
the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose
up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him into the brow of the hill
whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. But he
passing through the midst of them went his way."
3.) There was blasphemous
accusations when He was doing good--
Luke 11:14-15
"And he casting
out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out,
the dumb spake; and the people wondered. but some of them said, He casteth out
devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils."
4.) There was defection by many
disciples--
John 6:60-61,66
"Many therefore
of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who
can hear it? when Jesus knew himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said
unto them, Doth this offend you?"
"From that time
many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him."
5.) He endured ridicule by
members of his own family--
John 7:3-5
"His brethren
therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples
also may see the works that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth any
thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these
things, shew thyself to the world. For neither did his brethren believe in
him."
**Jesus' brothers had a difficult time believing in him. Some of these
brothers would eventually become leaders in the church, but for several years
they were embarrassed by him. After Jesus died and rose again, they finally
believed. **
6.) There was annoucements of
betrayel , abandonment, denial--
Matthew 26:21
"Verily I say
unto you, that one of you shall betray me."
Matthew 26:31
"Then said Jesus
unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is
written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be
scattered abroad."
Matthew 26:34
"Jesus said unto
them, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt
deny me thrice."
7.) The indignity of such things was maginified by knowing who He was,
yet He humbly made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant.
Philippians 2:7
"But made
himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made
in the likeness of men:"
8.) There was the great agony as He prayed---
Luke 22:44
"And being in an
agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of
blood falling down to the ground."
9.) The betrayal with a kiss by Judas
Mark 14:43-46
"And
immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him
a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the
scribes and the elders. And he that betrayed him had given them a token,
saying, whosoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away
safely. And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith,
Master, master; and kissed him. And they had their hands on him, and took
him."
10.) Then he was forsaken by his disciples
Mark 14:50
"And they all
forsook him, and fled."
11.) The physical abuse intensified
Matthew 26:67-68
"Then did they
spit in his face, and buffeted him; and to cover his face, and to buffet him,
and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms
of their hands."
12.) They crucified Him, as He cried out for God to forgive them
Luke 23:33-34
"And When they
were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and
the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said
Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted
his raiment, and cast lots."
13.) For 6 hours He hung on the cross
Mark 15:33
"And when the
sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth
hour."
14.) As Prophesied, Jesus was stricken, smitten, afflicted, wounded,
bruised, chastised, endured stripes, oppressed, led to the slaughter, cut off
from the land of the living.
Isaiah 53:4-8
"Surely he hath borne
our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of
God, and afflicted.5But he was
wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement
of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.6All
we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and
the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.7He was oppressed,
and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to
the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not
his mouth.8He
was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation?
for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my
people was he stricken."
