Why Did Jesus Suffer
Why Did Jesus Suffer
Why Did Jesus Suffer
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INTRODUCTION
1. The gospel message is that Jesus died and shed his blood for our
sins...
a. According to the Jewish Scriptures - 1 Co 15:3; Isa 53:4-6
b. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins - He
9:22; Ep 1:7
2. Yet it is not unusual to wonder: why couldn't Jesus have simply died
a quick death...?
a. Animal sacrifices were killed with a quick slice of the knife
b. Why did Jesus have to endure the scourging, mocking, and
crucifixion?
[Why, then, did Jesus suffer? Before we consider the Biblical response
to our question, let's first note that His suffering actually included
much more than commonly thought...]
[Again we ask "Why?" Why did it please the Lord to bruise Him, to put
Jesus to grief (Isa 53:10)? Why could His death for our sins have not
been more merciful? Why did Jesus suffer...?]
A. TO BRING US TO GOD...
1. Thus Peter explained in his epistle - 1 Pe 3:18
2. God seeks to reconcile us back to Him - Isa 53:6; 2 Co 5:18-21
3. Motivated by love, God sent His Son to be the propitiation for
our sins - 1 Jn 4:9-10
4. The suffering reveals the terribleness of sin
a. The universality of sin - Ro 3:23
b. The consequence of sin - Ro 6:23
5. The suffering reveals the greatness of God's love
a. The love of the Father - Jn 3:16; Ro 5:8
b. The love of the Son - Jn 15:13; 1 Jn 3:16
-- Yes, He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our
iniquities
C. TO BE OUR EXAMPLE...
1. Of suffering for the sake of righteousness - 1 Pe 2:20-24
a. When we are mistreated for doing good
b. How we should trust in God to judge rightly
2. Of persevering in our battle against sin - 1 Pe 4:1-4
a. As we seek to live for the will of God, not the lusts of the
flesh
b. As we endure the ridicule of those in the world
3. Of loving one another, and loving our enemies - Jn 13:34-35; Ep
5:1-2; Mt 5:44-45
a. Loving one another as He loved us
b. Blessing those who curse us, doing good to those who hate
us, praying for those who persecute us
-- His suffering illustrates how far we must go for the sake of
love and righteousness
CONCLUSION
1. Perhaps we can now appreciate more fully why our Savior suffered...
a. To pay the terrible price of sin
b. To be our perfect Advocate (1 Jn 2:1) in our struggle against sin
c. To motivate us to reach a higher plane in striving for love and
righteousness
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
- 1 Pe 2:21
Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit
their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
- 1 Pe 4:19