The Fall of Adam and Eve has allowed pain and suffering to become too common. There is little we can do to prepare us for what is to come. It can come unexpectedly and many of us are left feeling alone, isolated and emotionally scared.

Jesus Christ was perfect in every way, yet He suffered more than any person who ever lived. His life and ministry were not what you would expect from a future king:

Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. (ESV)

Isaiah 53:1-12 (ESV)

His death was the cruellest in all history. His body was beaten so badly that He didn’t even look human (Isaiah 52:24). Despite this, His last words were spoken with love for the people who did this to Him, for the men on the Cross and for all who ever lived and who would live.

• “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
• “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
• “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34; Matthew 27:46) –His first time ever being separated from God and this was agonizing.
• “Woman, here is your son… Here is your mother.” (John 19:26-27)
• “I am thirsty.” (John 19:28)
• “It is finished.” (John 19:30)
• “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)

But this great suffering was only for a moment. The reward for all that He went through was for you and I to be reconciled to God.

It was to give us a chance to receive eternal life by putting our hope and trust in Him and by repenting of our sins and choosing His ways and His teachings over our own desires and self- ambition.

The suffering Christ went through was worth every minute if it meant that you would choose Him to be your Lord, your Savior, your life and that you would choose to have a deep, intimate relationship with Him. That is why He came.

He didn’t come to hang out. He didn’t come so He could understand humans better. He came because He was the only way to undo the mess that man-made: Choosing to sin against a Holy God who made them perfect and gave them free will. God knew they would choose sin over obedience, but God is a God of redemption, which is what Jesus’ death and resurrection are all about (see 2 Cornithans 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18).

You may be experiencing a lot of suffering right now. You may have lost someone dear to you and you don’t know what to do. You may have been diagnosed with an illness that has completely changed your life. You may have a condition or disability that you never asked for. You may be struggling with a persistent sin that just won’t let up. You may be struggling to know who you are and your purpose.

Whatever your situation, He sees you. He weeps with you. He longs to comfort and encourage you. He longs to heal the hurt and pain on the inside. He wants you to hand over those sins and emotional turmoils. He knows how hard this life is. 

Jesus conquered every possible hurt, pain and sin you could imagine on the Cross. He suffered greatly and died for them. The battle is already won. Let Him be Lord over your situation and any sin that is getting between you and God.

The suffering you’re facing now will have an end. You can put your hope and trust in Him through your suffering. Jesus made sure that you would be with Him if you choose to accept the great sacrifice He made for you.

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