Jesus Bore Our Pain

-September 17, 2023-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lamasabachthani? that is, ‘My God, God, why have you forsaken Me?’”

(Matthew 27:46).

We have all experienced pain in our lives, but none as intense and agonizing as Jesus suffered on the cross. He bore our pain. Isaiah 53:5 says, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” There are four kinds of pain Jesus experienced to the utmost, spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental. Jesus felt all these at the very same time, and He had no one to comfort Him.

1. Spiritual Pain – The greatest pain Jesus suffered was spiritual. He was forsaken by God, He bore our sins, and He became sin for us. The Father had to turn His back on Jesus because of our sins. This is why He cried out, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” We may at times have some spiritual pain but nothing close to His pain.

2. Physical Pain – The physical pain that our Savior went through for us was unbelievable. He hurt all over through those six hours on the cross. They pierced His hands and feet with long nails, like spikes. Whenever He took a breath, He had to pull Himself up and that really hurt. They placed a crown of long, sharp thorns on His head. All his bones were out of joint. There was external and internal bleeding. It was super painful.

3. Mental Pain – Our Lord endured mental cruelty. They taunted and mocked Him. He had such horrific mental torture. Psalm 22:12-13 says, “Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me. They gape at Me with their mouths, like a raging and roaring lion.” The Romans inflicted mental suffering along with horrible pain with no limit.

4. Emotional Pain – Christ suffered emotional pain as well. He saw His mother weeping at the cross. His felt a deep inner pain and sorrow. He was called the “Man of Sorrows.” Recently I suffered deep emotional trauma and pain. This type of pain is worse than even the physical pain. Emotional wounds and scars take a long time to heal. My pain was nothing compared to Jesus’ pain, and I had many people to comfort me.

Thus Jesus suffered spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally to the greatest degree for you and for Me. I don’t know what pain you may be going through right now, but Jesus does. When we hurt, He hurts with us. Hebrews 4:15, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Let us thank the Lord that He suffered, bled, and died for us on the cross: spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally; He did it all for us. He was the Healer, but there was no one who could heal Him; He was the Comforter, but there was no one to comfort Him; He was the Helper, but there was no one to help Him. He suffered alone on the cross.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day at the foot of the cross, watching, listening, and feeling His pain. Stay safe and healthy.

Looking to the Author and Finisher of our faith,

Dean