Jesus Endured the Cross
Day 24
by Gini Crawford, MSW
Jesus endured physical pain
Jesus lived on this earth knowing He would be crucified. Yet, He knew death could not defeat Him, but that He would rise from the dead bringing life everlasting to us. (Luke 9:20-22; Acts 2:24). Yes, Jesus knew the suffering that awaited Him, but He willingly endured it for us.
...looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame… Hebrews 12:2 ESV®
Here's a summary taken from the Gospels of what Jesus endured going to the cross: After betrayal by one of His twelve Apostles and His arrest (Matthew 26:47-56), Jesus experienced several unjust trials where He was bound, mocked, spit on and hit many times. Pilate, who believed Jesus was innocent, had Him scourged or whipped. A company of soldiers stripped Him, put a purple robe and a crown of thorns on Him, leading to more mocking, striking and spitting. They removed the robe to put His clothes back on consequently inflaming His wounds and demeaning Him. Even though Jesus was clearly innocent, the Jewish leaders demanded His crucifixion. The soldiers pierced Jesus' wrists and feet with large nails to hold Him securely on the cross, then the cross was dropped forcefully into a deep hole so it would stand. On the cross Jesus was heartlessly mocked by many as He hung in awful pain. Soldiers cast lots for His clothes, so was He naked? The Bible doesn't say. (Isaiah 53:4-6; Matthew 27:11-54; Mark 15:1-41; Luke 22:54-23:49). Honestly, it is hard for me to truly understand why God would leave His throne in heaven to endure such suffering for you and me. It is amazing love, as the song says, isn't it?
We all deal with physical pain, some of us more than others, because we live in a fallen world. But take heart, since Jesus suffered we will inherit a body that will never experience pain or suffering. How do you feel about this?
Jesus endured psychological distress
Psychological distress can be hard to handle too, can't it? Jesus endured the greatest psychological distress I can think of - the crucifixion. His distress is shown to us, in the garden of Gethsemane (on the Mount of Olives) when Jesus cries out to the Father in agony about going to the cross. The Greek word agony (agonia) in Luke 22:44 refers to anxiety produced by fear or tension before something hard such as a battle. Paying for our sins was the hardest battle ever fought!
And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.... And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” ... And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Luke 22:39-44 ESV®
Jesus' anxiety-agony was very intense. This is shown to us by the description of how His sweat appeared – like drops of blood. Sweating blood is rare and comes from being under extreme stress.
You might be thinking, "Jesus can't be anxious because that would be sin." Anxiety is a normal response to stressful situations and since Jesus took on flesh and blood He struggled with negative emotions like we do. Simply put, anxiety in itself isn't a sin, it is the mind's and the body's reaction to stressful, dangerous, or unfamiliar situations. Anxiety becomes sin when we allow the source of our anxiety such as fear, worry, or stress to control us, instead of trusting God like Jesus did (Luke 22:42). So when you get anxious, and we all do, trust and ask God to give you what you need to get through whatever is making you anxious. (Matthew 6:25-34; Philippians 4:6-7; Hebrews 12:1-2)
Jesus' love for us made Him look past the horrors of the cross, giving Him joy. (In the Roman world, crucifixion occurred often, so Jesus certainly knew the horrors of it.) His joy came from knowing His beloved (us) would be resurrected and His forever. How do you feel that you are clearly God's beloved since He endured the cross for you?
Life Application
The joy of our resurrection
...looking to Jesus...who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross... Hebrews 12:2 ESV®
Jesus knew death would not hold Him captive, but that He would rise from the dead, bringing eternal life and the joy of the resurrection to us. You might be wondering what resurrection means? It means: to stand on the feet again or rise up as opposed to fall, also it refers to the resurrection of the body from death, return to life. Jesus' death and resurrection allows us to be born again, guaranteeing us an inheritance in heaven and the joy of bodily living with Jesus. Read John 3:1-16, 14:1-3; Acts 2:24; 1 Peter 1:3-5.
People in 3rd world countries can go blind from cataracts because they have no opportunity for cataract surgery. Fortunately a few charitable organizations have started to go to these countries offering to heal people's sight. The key for people to gain sight is the obvious - to know this surgery exists and believe in it enough to take advantage of it. Jesus is offering the hope and joy that comes from being resurrected, but some people don't believe God so they don't take advantage of His offer. Not taking advantage of the offer of eternal life together with the resurrection is of course, more illogical than choosing not to have eye surgery. You have a choice to take advantage of what Jesus has to offer, or not believe God and live in hopeless darkness. Read John 11:25-26.
Jesus' resurrection has a magnificent joy to it, because it takes the ugliness of death and changes it to a joyous home coming in the most beautiful place – heaven. Look to Jesus and the wonderment of your resurrection, and you will find His joy.
To ponder: The God of the universe suffered for you to give you the joy of the resurrection. Do you feel loved?
Reflect on Hebrews 12:2.