Good Friday

What Did Jesus Suffer On The Cross?

We often speak of the pain and torture that Jesus suffered on the cross. Maybe we’ve seen recreations in movies and television.

The Romans had perfected the art of inflicting pain on their fellow human beings.

Pax Romana: Peace through violence

Crucifixion as a form of capital punishment was not invented by the Romans, but they had perfected the art of it. It was meant to be a long, painful and humiliating death.

Jesus was scourged, a painful crown of thorns was placed on his head to mock him as King of the Jews, and then he was beaten. The Son of God was spat on and humiliated. He was made to drag his cross through the streets to the hill where he will be nailed to it and then lifted up.

A crucified person would die from asphyxiation, arms stretched wide and in pain, cycling between holding themselves up on their feet or by there arms in order to breath.

Jesus suffered the most humiliating death imaginable before everyone to see as many mocked him:

“If he really is the Christ of God, let him save himself!”

“You said you were going to tear down the temple and rebuild it in three days - save yourself!!”

All of this thrown onto an innocent man.

As if this were not humiliating enough for the Son of God to endure - I want us to consider the full breadth of what Jesus suffered the day he was put to death by the religious authorities and Pilate.

One place we can turn to in our Bibles is Isaiah 53 (52:13 - 53:12)

The last of the four Servant Songs found in Isaiah

Considered the first gospel: the first message of the good news of Jesus Christ - the gospel according to Isaiah

5 stanzas, 3 verses each

1 & 5: focus on the servants victory

2 & 4: the realities of his suffering

Stanza 3 (the center one) v.4-6 gives us the reason why the servant of the Lord must suffer

[Isaiah 53:1-10a]

v.4 “smitten by God”

Jesus’ suffering was not only physical - but he suffered the greater pain of being separated from the Father, abandoned by God.

The eternal, Son who has been with the eternal Father, has been abandoned by God.

The suffering that Jesus endured was not merely symbolic, but he felt the real suffering of hell, separated completely from the loving comfort of God. He endured, on our behalf, what lies ahead for those who reject him.

Jesus took upon himself the full force of God’s wrath. Every sin that you have committed in your life - for each of us - he has taken the full weight of God’s anger against your rebelliousness - against your rejection of Him. Jesus has stood in as your substitute. If you recognize your own sinful heart and believe that Jesus is your only hope.

v.10a “Yet, it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief.”

Jesus did more than suffer a very physical, painful, torturous death. He suffered the complete separation from God that anyone who rejects the Son of God will endure. Jesus was forsaken - cursed by God on your behalf.

[Isa 53:5-6]

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus takes on himself our sin - becomes sin who knew no sin - and gives us his righteousness.

Galatians 3:13 ESV

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

But what does the author of the book of Hebrews say to us:

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

It was for joy that our loving king took upon himself the full wrath of God that is directed at us due to our rebellious hearts.

What a beautiful saviour we have! What king would do that for his people?

Song:The Old Rugged Cross

Summary of the preceding week:

The triumphal entry

Jesus asserts his authority by clearing the temple of those who sold in the temple along with the money changers.

He healed the blind and the lame.

He continued to teach and told parables

Jesus pronouncers seven woes on the scribes and Pharisees and calls them hypocrites. He challenges their authority and they challenge his.

Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple and speaks of things to come.

He celebrates the Passover meal with his disciples in the upper room and institutes the Lord’s Supper.

Judas has agreed to betray Jesus to the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver.

We’re going to listen to some reading that document the final hours of Jesus’ life. As we listen, let us reflect on what He was willing to endure for your sake.