Jesus Understands

Would it surprise you to hear that Jesus did not go to the cross exuding emotional confidence?

In The Reason for God, Pastor Tim Keller observes that “Jesus did not face his approaching death with anything like the aplomb and fearlessness that was widely expected in a spiritual hero,” Rather, Keller describes Jesus “as profoundly shaken by his impending doom.”

Gospel Accounts

Mark describes Jesus as being “crushed with grief to the point of death” before going on to record the way Jesus pleaded with the Father (Mark 14:34, NLT). “Please take this cup of suffering away,” Jesus pleads (v. 36).

Luke shares that “[Jesus] was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like drops of blood” (Luke 22:44). 

Matthew tells us how in our Savior’s darkest moment of despair and agony he literally cried out, “My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46).

Our Model for Suffering

I don’t know about you, but I find Christ’s demeanor in suffering immensely comforting because it models for us how we can respond to suffering in our own lives.

Instead of exhibiting superhuman strength, Christ exhibited fear, anxiety, depression, anguish, loneliness, and despair. And, instead of masking that pain, Jesus openly expressed it to Father God. For Christ, faith in his Father did not equate to an absence of fear. Rather, his obedience shined through the midst of his complete mental and emotional brokenness. In choosing obedience to the point of death, Jesus was ultimately able to cry out “It is finished!”

But.

Jesus did not run up Mount Calvary shouting “Faith over fear!” or providing glass-half-full mantras of “hope.”

No.

Jesus walked up Mount Calvary weary and worn with a bloody, flesh-torn back carrying a cross much too heavy for him. And in so doing, Jesus provided us with a rich model of suffering that sympathizes with us and gives us permission to feel and be affected by our circumstances.

Friends, do you find yourself suffering during this Easter weekend?

Jesus understands.

Keller, Timothy. The Reason for God: Belief in the Age of Skepticism. Penguin Books. New York, New York. 2008.
Pages 27-28.

New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois. 2015.

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