Beginning today through Easter Sunday, we will be looking at the last days before Jesus’ life came to a horrible death and then joyously resurrected, and how it applies to us.
Suffering. I like to start with definitions because too often we think we know what a word means but use it without really understanding all the various parts of what the word means. To one person “suffering” could mean lying on a sunny beach in Hawaii—someone has to do it! 😊 To another suffering means lying in bed too sick to move or not being able to get up. ☹ By definition, according to Miriam Webster, “distress, suffering, misery, agony mean the state of being in great trouble.” Each one of those words has their own meaning of the aspect of suffering. Let’s look at them in light of what Jesus went through that last week of His life.
“Distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical or mental strain and stress.” Distress definitely causes all kinds of problems for people, from mental to emotional to physical. It affects every part of your body in ways you don’t even think about. What kind of distress might you be experiencing right now? Are you aware of it and of its effects on your body?
What might Jesus have been thinking about and experiencing as it got closer to the time for Him to complete the work the Father gave Him to do? He may have been thinking about all the people who heard His message—both those who responded and those who didn’t. He may have had concern for the believers after He was gone…would they still follow Him and spread the Good News? Perhaps He wondered if things could have been different or if there was anything important left unsaid. Did the Disciples and believers really understand the events to come??? Wow! That’s enough to cause distress. The weight of the world was literally on Jesus’ shoulders, and He knew the dreaded day wasn’t far away. It’s kind of like surgery…you know you need it but you dread it at the same time.
“Suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress.” Every time I get on my exercise bike, I’m usually thinking about all the other things I could be doing, or think about how tired I already am. It takes a conscious effort for me to stay focused on the result of that exercise (losing weight) to keep me from getting off the bike. Then when my legs start aching and the pace slows, I tell myself I can’t give up.
The beginning of the end of Jesus’ earthly life was near and it would change the world, but oh the pain He would have to endure in the days ahead. The sequence of events had begun. Just like once you hit send on an email, there’s no turning back, so Jesus knew there was no turning back. He had to complete the task assigned by His Heavenly Father. He could only go forward to the cross and then upward to Heaven. After that it was all downhill (no pun intended).
“Misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss.” The old saying says that misery loves company, though I’m not sure how accurate that really is. Some of us would rather be left alone when we’re feeling miserable, and certainly wouldn’t wish loss or sickness on anyone else.
Jesus was brave and focused on His purpose of living and dying for others. He prayed alone in Gethsemane. He went to the cross alone. He taught and shared with His Disciples what was going to be taking place soon, but they didn’t get it…just like us sometimes. He was alone with His thoughts and emotions—yes, emotions! Jesus had many emotions going through Him. He’s experienced it all so He can identify with us in our stresses of life.
“Agony suggests pain too intense to be borne.” I remember in elementary school a friend moved away, like out-of-state move. Then some close relatives moved hours away. To this little girl it felt like the world had come to an end. Though I reconnected with both my friend when she moved back and with my relatives through visits, it was never the same. The separation had taken a piece of my heart with them never to be fully returned because circumstances were different.
Jesus’ Disciples knew their Master was troubled in spirit about something. He was as sad as He could ever be short of dying. His Disciples could see the anguish in His eyes but didn’t know what to do. They never saw Him like this before. Though we usually mourn over things that have already happened, Jesus was grieving over what would be happening, what still lied ahead for Him. He was full of sorrow for the very people He came to help, and yet He knew it had to be this way for their salvation. Jesus never hesitated, but kept going no matter what—all the way to the cross!
PRAYER POINT FOR TODAY:
Lord, I think about my own suffering at various times and then of Your suffering, and there’s no comparison. The pain and suffering I experience for minor aches and injuries is nothing like Yours. I can never thank You enough for all You went through for me.
- Week 1 – temptation
- Week 2 – confession, forgiveness, and fasting
- Week 3 – listening to God and answering when He calls
- Week 4 – God’s love for us
- Week 5 – waiting, anxiety, and trust
- Week 6 – suffering (W), pain (T), and struggles (F-S), rejoicing (Palm Sunday), Trials (M-T-W), Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Silent Saturday
- Easter – resurrection and salvation