When we think of God, we consider the fact that He is righteous. God is holy. God is loving. God is good. But here is something else to consider about God: He has suffered. He didn’t have to if He didn’t want to. But He chose to suffer because He loves us. And He enters into our suffering as well. God cares. God understands. God suffers.
But why did Jesus have to suffer and die?
Practical Principles
- There was no other way to satisfy the righteous demands of God. God plays by His own rules. He said, “The soul that sins shall surely die.” The Scripture teaches that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Jesus was the fulfillment of all of the sacrifices of the Old Testament. John the Baptist said that Christ is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
- Calvary shows how far men will go in sin and how far God will go for man’s salvation. Jesus knew He was going to die from the very beginning. He spoke of it often. No one took His life. He laid it down of His own accord. Jesus lived in the shadow of the cross from the moment He entered the world. That was the Master’s plan.
- God sent Jesus to die on the cross. It was His plan. God the Father was the Master of Ceremonies at the cross. Sometimes people like to place the blame of the death of Jesus at the feet of the Jews. They will say the Jews killed Him. Sometimes that is used to justify anti-Semitism, which is always wrong. But it wasn’t the fault of the Jews, or the Romans. It was God’s plan.
Relevant Reminders
- The most evil act ever perpetrated by sinful hearts, the sinless Son of God tortured and murdered, brought about the greatest good of all time: our salvation.
- Jesus died because there was no other way we would ever be brought into a relationship with the Father.
- If you are going through any kind of suffering, you are not alone. Jesus has been there. He has walked in your shoes.
Applicable Actions
God cares. He is the God who suffers. He will enter into your suffering and help you through it so you don’t have to be alone. Jesus had to have even the Father turn away from Him for a time to satisfy God’s righteous demands. Because of that we will never be forsaken of God—ever! Jesus said, “I will never, ever leave you or forsake you.” Because He was forsaken, I never will be if I put my faith in Him.
