The suffering of Jesus

The original Korean text: https://blog.naver.com/stevision/50025357849

 

(Written on 12. 24, 2004)

 

Tomorrow is Christmas. Truly celebrating the birth of Jesus, who was born and laid in a manger in a stable, I think it would be meaningful at Christmas to think about the purpose of Jesus' coming into the world.

 

Jesus prayed to the Father the day before the crucifixion. "Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. (Lk 22:42)" Some may wonder that Jesus did not accept the cross voluntarily but reluctantly. But, considering various circumstances, we can say that Jesus obeyed Father voluntarily.

 

1. Jesus' suffering is a suffering of one who ended his life early, at the age of 33, and a suffering of one who failed in life from a human point of view. He suffered a death as a political criminal. This suffering took place in the relationship with Mary, his mother on earth. Mary expected that Jesus would sit enthroned on the throne of David's house. However, Jesus could not fulfill Mary's wish. It might be a great suffering to him.

2. His suffering is a suffering ahead of a painful death. It's a suffering that a man sentenced to death may suffer, a man whose spirit wither away every day by nightmares. The inevitable hopeless death pressed hard upon Jesus.

3. It's a suffering he felt before the Father who would never gives up his will. It's a suffering of a one whose request for help was rejected by the person who should and could help him. You may feel this suffering, if your family are scattered because of debt but none of your close rich relatives pay heed to you.

4. His suffering also came from the expectations of the Father. The great mission of human salvation was possible only through Jesus. There was no substitute at all. Just one failure would be a decisive defamation to the Father. The mission that he had to achieve alone was weighing on him. He was on a boat with his disciples, and he was so tired from heavy works that he could slept soundly even when the storm was on the verge of breaking the boat. How hard he worked for the Father!

5. His suffering arose even when he could not meet the political demands of his followers. There were some people who departed their wives, children and good jobs to follow him. Their only wish was for Jesus to become king, and for them to sit on his left and right and live with wealth and authority. But Jesus couldn't grant their wishes.

6. Therefore his suffering was a suffering that arose when he could not use his power and authority because of God's will and glory.

7. The suffering on account of Judas Iscariot is the suffering of being betrayed and killed thanks to him whom he loved and trusted.

8. The suffering of being spat upon is the suffering of having his character thoroughly violated.

9. Jesus loved the Father. Nevertheless, people disregarded his faith and sincerity, thinking that Jesus' love for the Father was so presumptuous. It was Jesus' pain that people didn't acknowledge his truthfulness.

10. The crucifixion was the culmination of physical suffering. It was so painful for him that he cried, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mt 27:46)"

 

But

Jesus' sufferings were not for his sins but for the glory of God, and were the redemptive sufferings for the salvation of all mankind. And the suffering of Jesus was the suffering that came from the war with Satan. He drove out Satan from his throne, where the Satan ruled as a king over those who were originally God's people but became captives to the Satan and lay bounded to sin. The righteous Jesus accepted the suffering the Satan gave and conquered Satan thereby. Lastly, the suffering of Jesus is a temporary suffering for the wonderful glory he will receive in the future. He became "the Lord" of all human beings when he accepted the crucifixion. All mankind will kneel before him.

 

The Scripture tells us that Jesus suffered gladly for a moment for the great glory he would receive in the future.