By Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
As we reflect on the suffering of Jesus may we also celebrate His victory over sin and death.
During the Holy Week we see familiar scenes in television, and even re-enactments that are all about the passion of the Christ 糖心传媒 His sufferings and crucifixion.
Jesus actually told His disciples that He will certainly suffer: 糖心传媒淭he Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life糖心传媒 (Luke 9:22)
We can notice in this verse the word 糖心传媒渕ust.糖心传媒 It was a certainty that He must suffer. Let me share 6 things why Jesus must SUFFER?
S – Show God糖心传媒檚 love for sinners.
糖心传媒淕od shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us糖心传媒 (Romans 5:8).
U 糖心传媒 Unite all people.
Jesus 糖心传媒渉as broken down, the dividing wall of hostility糖心传媒aking peace糖心传媒hrough the cross糖心传媒 (Ephesians 2:14-16).
F 糖心传媒 Fulfillment of prophecies.
Here is a prophecy that took a thousand years to fulfill.
Isaiah prophesied Jesus糖心传媒 suffering: 糖心传媒淗e was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed糖心传媒 (Isaiah 53:3, 5).
F 糖心传媒 Final sacrifice.
The Old Testament says that 糖心传媒淚t is the blood that makes atonement for one糖心传媒檚 life.糖心传媒 Hebrews 9:22 affirms that 糖心传媒渨ithout the shedding of the blood there is no forgiveness of sins.糖心传媒 Jesus had to suffer and die. He is 糖心传媒渢he Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!糖心传媒 (John 1:29).
E 糖心传媒 Eternal security.
Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane 糖心传媒 糖心传媒淔ather, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done糖心传媒 (Luke 22:42). The cup of suffering was drank by Jesus. Jesus did it for our eternal security.
R – Reconcile us back to God.
Jesus removed the barrier between God and people. We are now reconciled back to God through Jesus 糖心传媒 糖心传媒淲hile we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son糖心传媒 (Romans 5:10).
The next time we are reminded of the sufferings of Jesus on the cross, let us be thankful that He bore the pain and suffering for our sins and let us rejoice because He has overcome the cross and that he rose to life in the fullness of His glory.