THE CLIMAX OF SALVATION 3 – HIS SUFFERING 2

“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.” 

1 Thessalonians 5: 9-10 (KJV)

The salvation which you have obtained in Christ wasn’t cheap. It was costly!

The satisfaction you find in Christ was worked for you through the sufferings of Christ.

He was not just beaten, mocked, and tied to the cross. The death of our Lord Jesus and the method or process to which His crucifixion was executed were horrific.

There are some who thought He was tied to the cross.
No! Jesus was nailed to the cross.

Read a summary of how our Lord was scourged from here. He was tortured and bruised for our transgressions.

“…the chastisement of our peace was upon Him…” (Isaiah 53:5)

Our Lord Jesus’ body was disfigured through the horrific scourge.
 
That was a fulfillment of Prophecy by the Prophet Isaiah:

“But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man.” Isaiah 52:14 (NLT)

The people were determined to see Jesus crucified.

“Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”
Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?”
But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” Matthew 27:22-23 (NKJV)

Before a cross weighing about 200 pounds would be placed on him to carry, Jesus was taken to the Praetorium, where they stripped him naked, placed a scarlet robe on Him, placed a crown of thorns on His head, and put a reed in His right hand [as a scepter]. Kneeling before Him, they ridiculed Him, saying, “Hail (rejoice), King of the Jews!” They spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him repeatedly on the head. After they finished ridiculing and mocking Him, they stripped Him of the scarlet robe and put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified. (Matthew 27:27-31).

According to some historical and archaeological evidence, some scholars have estimated that from the Praetorium (Pilate’s palace) to Golgotha is between 650–900 metres.

Jesus probably might have carried the 200-pound cross alone for about 600 or 650 metres. This is because He was also helped by Simon along the way.

Considering the horrific torture His body had undergone, and carrying the cross, it was clear our Lord Jesus was in extreme pain.

As I mentioned in yesterday’s episode:
Our Lord Jesus carried the cross while his internal organs and muscles around His spine were exposed, His lungs were bruised, His rib cage was visible on both sides, and He was also losing a lot of blood.

It wasn’t just about the measurement of distance to Golgotha. At that moment, every step was as a journey into eternity. Time and distance seem longer than their physical measurements.

He had tremors, traumatic shocks, seizures, and fainted along the way. And still the hard crown of thorns pierced His skull and facial nerves.

Remember, Jesus had bruised lungs, ripped and fractured ribs. And these organs support breathing, thus our Lord Jesus struggled to breathe even while He was carrying the cross.

The burden of the cross was not just its physical weight. The burden of the cross was the weight of human sin and condemnation.

The nails used to crucify the Lord were seven to nine inches long. These were made of heavy iron with square edges.

The Lord was in a dolorous agony, considering the radiating pain that went through His entire body from His hands and legs. For about 6 hours that the Lord was hanging on the cross, He had to struggle to breathe. Every moment He took in air, He had to pull His body up with the nails holding him to the cross. And each time He tried to breathe, His exposed back muscles and tissues would rub up against splintered wood. The pain is definitely unimaginable.
There was no moment of relief during His crucifixion.

He endured to the end that He would completely satisfy the demand of justice.

Is there any price greater than this?

Is there any love greater than this?

Do you think our Lord will suffer these for nothing? He suffered this horrific torture and the death penalty for you so that you will obtain salvation.

When Paul the apostle said, “God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation BY OUR LORD JESUS, WHO DIED FOR US…”; this was the kind of death he meant.

Beloved, enjoy the salvation of the Lord. And don’t let your heart be troubled.

Hallelujah!