Why Did Jesus Suffer?
There is a lot of suffering in this fallen world. Much of the suffering is a result of pride. When our prideful nature is offended, the world indoctrinates us to think that the suffering that results, violates our human right not to be offended.
However, God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Why is God opposed to pride? Pride keeps men from accepting Jesus as Lord. Pride says, I don’t need God…. I can do it on my own. I am the master of my own destiny and the captain of my own soul.
Pride goeth before a fall.. 2 Timothy 3 says that in the last days, men shall be lovers of their own selves… covetous, boastful, and proud. The devil will trick us to think that others are selfish but we are not…. That I’m good but those areound me think evil continually.
In contrast to the world’s prideful, egotistical, self seeking, and self serving power grab, Jesus said in the first Beatitudes, blessed are the poor in spirt, the mournful, meek, lowly and humble of spirit. To come to Jesus on his terms, we must forsake our pride…. We must empty ourselves of our selfish selves.
Proverbs 21:17-19 says sin is revealed by things that God hates: These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
What great commandment excludes selfishness? Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength, and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self. Love is the solution to selfishness because it honors God by serving others with the same love wherewith God has loved us.
The world celebrates individual achievement. In sports, the receiver who catches the touchdown celebrates himself… he puts one one the scoreboard to call attention to himself and raise the value of his own “Image, name, and likeness.” However, like a winning sports team, discipleship is a team effort… we have been called to the body of Christ to serve one another in love.
Jesus Christ himself is The example of giving our lives in service to others. Philippians 2 says….. he emptied himself and became obedient to his Father even unto the death of the cross…. God opposes the proud and gives grace to those who are humble, broken and contrite.
King David repented of committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband Uriah. He prayed, purge me with hyssop. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Philippians 2:5-11 continues the theme of humility: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
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 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Humility does not mean to wallow in self pity, victimhood, and the “woe-is-me” syndrome. Humility is not guilt, shame, or doubt. Humility does not proceed from a heart that spews forth by criticizing, condemning,and complaining.
Humility means to submit myself under the mighty hand of God in meekness so that God can lift me up.
A man of God sins less but is not sinless. God gives us a way when we fall to return to the narrow way… for when we sin, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and forgive us from all unrighteousness.
Salvation is not of ourselves…. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. It’s not about you…. It’s all about him…. Truth humbles our sinful flesh so that we can empty ourselves of our selves. Then we can come to God empty handed to be filled with his Holy Spirit.
In Jesus Christ, God has given us the full measure of faith… for ye are complete in him. His gift of Holy Spirit is the new nature he gave us when we were born again of his spirit. Being born again not of corruptible seed (biological seed inherited from Adam) but by incorruptible (seed) by the word of God with liveth and abideth forever.
Then once we have been born again of God’s seed, the spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are sons of God. Prayer is believing by aligning our hearts with God’s heart and his will with our will, and his desire with our desire. Prayer in meekness and humility unleashes God’s power in our lives. When we work out our own salvation with awe, respect, reverence and love, then God will work in and through us to will and to do of His good pleasure.
Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane…. God if there be any other way, take away this cup away from me… this cup of wrath, separation, and the sin of the world. Then Jesus concluded his prayer, nevertheless, not my will but thine be done.
The Garden of Gethsemane is the garden of the olive press…. Jesus was in such anguish and pain that the sweat of his brow poured down as if it were mingled with great drops of blood…. He was being crushed by the weight of the sin of the world…. The weight of separation from his Heavenly Father in death…
How could any man bear up under such pressure? The answer to Jesus’ prayer in the Garden is in Hebrews 12: Jesus Christ for the joy that was set before him endured the cross and is set down on the right hand of the throne of God.
Tribulation and pressure reveals the essence of God’s character…. When you squeeze the fruit, the essence of the fruit pours out…. On the cross, Jesus Christ shed his precious innocent blood and took upon himself God’s righteous judgement for our sins.
According to Isaiah 53:4-6, Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But 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.
All 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.
Through Jesus Christ’s suffering on our behalf, we who are born again, were made the righteousness of God in him…
That we may live to the praise of the glory of God’s grace,
Your brother in Christ,
Michael
