Jesus entered our world for many reasons, but perhaps his chief purpose was to save us from our sins. Most believers comprehend something of Christ's sacrifice, but often an in-depth understanding is missing. But how are we to fully comprehend the suffering and the agony that he endured for our sake?
If we look back at Jesus' journey from a mental and emotional perspective we can gain some insight.
Luke 2:49-52 - "for the Mighty One has done great things for me, holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble."
From very early on in his ministry Jesus had a strong sense of mission. As a teenager he was speaking of God as his Father and showing a real desire to obey his father's will. Jesus knew that his purpose in life was great.
Mark 8:31 - "He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law and that he must be killed and after three days rise again."
Moving on into adulthood, Jesus now had his twelve disciples. Mark spoke the above scripture. Jesus soon came to realise that his disciples were unable to grasp this knowledge. They were not yet converted. It would appear that they still looked to him as the Messiah, who would immediately deliver the nation from Roman rule. But Jesus faced total rejection from the religious establishment.
Mark 8:32-33 - "He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. 'Get behind me Satan' he said, 'You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.' "
In any event, Jesus had to rebuke Peter for letting himself be used by the devil to try to divert the true Anointed One from his ultimate purpose.
On a human level, he would no doubt have liked to receive some empathetic encouragement from those closest to Him. Because of Jesus' acute understanding of the purpose of his last trip to Jerusalem, he had to make that final journey to his beloved city with pretty much zero empathy or understanding.
Luke 9:51 - "As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem."
Once the time came for Jesus to be crucified, he steadfastly set out on his way to Jerusalem. He was absolutely determined to carry out this mission. Nothing and no one could stop him. The devil tried, and failed. Jesus had won. He would allow himself to be put to death for all of our many sins, making it possible for us to be reconciled with God.
John 7:4 - "No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world."
Jesus' fate as a human being had been on his mind a lot throughout his ministry. Yet even his own brothers could not grasp his dilemma. When Jesus was in mortal danger from the religious authorities, his brothers very unwisely told him to show himself to the world.
John 7:6-7 - "The right time for me has not come; for you any time is right. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil.
Jesus replied to his brothers firmly telling them that it was not yet his time and that the works of the world are evil. He went on to say that the world breaks God's holy law with impunity and does not like to be reminded of its sins.
Jesus knew that he was to endure a violent, premature death which would affect the future of all mankind.
Matthew 26:39 - "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
Humanly, Jesus was no different from the rest of us. He didn't want to die, but unlike most of us, he knew of his passing in advance. He even knew the exact method of execution - crucifixion - one of the most cruel and painful ways ever devised to execute someone. Crucifixions were intended as a very public and visual deterrent to challenging Roman authority.
Psychologically, having advanced knowledge of a bad event to come can be just as mentally arduous as the not knowing. To Jesus, the knowledge was of no comfort. It had completely the opposite effect in fact. As the time drew nearer he lamented and asked his Father to save him. He didn't, and Jesus was crucified.
Jesus went through all of this for us, you and me. This is what all of our sins caused to happen to this great man. He went through humiliation, torture and beatings then was crucified. The amount of suffering he endured was agonising. But Jesus knew that he had to take the sins of the whole world - past, present and future on himself. He did for us what we could never do for ourselves.
How great is his love?!?
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