Hebrews 5 - Suffering

How many times have you complained about your suffering and the trials you have faced? We often look at ourselves and grouse about how bad we have it. Look at the description of Jesus in Hebrews 5 and how He responded to suffering.

Hebrews 5:7-9 (HCSB), "During His earthly life, He offered prayers and appeals, with loud cries and tears, to the One who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. Though a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. After He was perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him"

Christ, though the Son of God whose rightful place was with the Father in Heaven, learned obedience through suffering. God, the Father, could have saved him from death, but the Father knew that the Son must be the sacrifice for our sins. While Jesus' prayers were heard because of his reverence for the Father, Jesus always sought the Father's will. Even in Gethsemane when he prayed, "... My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will." (Matthew 26:39 - HCSB). Even as he asked for mercy, he knew that it was more important for him to suffer and seek the Father's will.

Through his suffering, our sins are covered. He learned obedience and taught obedience by looking to the Father and seeking His will above all. Jesus was fully human, tempted and tested by all things human. Let us learn from his obedience.

Take Refuge in a Saviour willing to give up his right and his will and who chose suffering, even unto death, for you and me so that we might one day be with Him in glory.

Sacrificial Suffering of the Savior

Take Refuge in the sacrificial suffering of the Savior.

Tonight was the annual Maundy Thursday service at my church. As we came to a time of reflection, God brought to my mind the suffering that Christ experienced on our behalf.

While at the Garden of Gethsemane, He spent time talking to the Father. Time spent preparing for the days ahead. During that time, He reached a point that he asked, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from Me – nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” – Luke 22:42 (HCSB). Hearing this prayer, the Father responded, as the passage continues, “Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.” – Luke 22:43 (HCSB). Jesus willingly took on Himself the sins of a self-centered, willful people (all mankind) so that we could have the opportunity to spend eternity with Him and with the Father. And, in willingly doing this, the Father sent him comfort.

Jesus knew the path that was ahead of Him. “And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” – Luke 22:44 (HCSB). He knew that He would soon be betrayed by one of a trusted few. He knew about the trial. He knew that the crowds who had cheered Him just days before would cry out for his crucifixion. He knew about the scourging. He knew about the mocking. He knew that He soon would not even be recognizable as a man. He knew about the cross. He knew about the nails in His hands and feet. He knew that He would hang there for all to see and ridicule. He knew that only a few of His followers would actually be there with Him. He knew about the death to come. And yet, he chose the Father’s will and not His own.

I wonder, did He think about the resurrection? Did He think about the victory over death? Or were the sins of the world that He took upon Himself so great that it was all He could do just to bear them. Did He willingly go to the cross without contemplating what else had to be done after His death? Was the angel from heaven sent to Him to help Him prepare just for the crucifixion and death or was the angel also there to prepare Him for the resurrection as well?

Regardless of whether Jesus was thinking about the resurrection, He knew that He was facing the most horrific death that mankind had ever imagined. He knew that even though the Father loved his creation, sin had permanently separated them and only one sacrifice was sufficient to span that chasm between God and man. He willingly, knowingly and sacrificially chose to follow the course of suffering for my sake and for yours. Jesus loved us, all of us, so much that He was willing to give everything for us.

As you celebrate this Easter season, take refuge in the Savior and the sacrifice that He made just for you and for me.