Faith in Jesus' Life of Suffering

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: Isaiah 53; Lord's Day 15
Psalters: 221, 326, 184, 293
  1. His suffering.
    1. Christ suffering all His life (Heb. 2:10; Isa. 53:3,4; Ps. 69:8; Luke 9:41).
      1. While our suffering can alternate with joy (Ps. 30:5), His did not.
      2. He suffered physically (Matt. 8:17).
      3. He suffered in His soul (John 12:27; Luke 22:44; Matt. 26:37,38).
    2. Of all that He suffered, He was always most sensitive to God's wrath (the righteous response against sin).
      1. He bore the burden of the wrath of God (Isa. 53:4,5; Matt. 20:28; I Peter 3:18; Hebrews 13:12).
      2. He, as the Holy One, knew as no other what God’s wrath was and saw it in every evidence of the curse, esp. death.
    3. The words "under Pontius Pilate" emphasize Jesus' holiness and innocency.
  2. Jesus knew the purpose for His suffering.
    1. Negatively, the purpose was not to be a martyr for his principles, or an example to be followed.
    2. Jesus’ suffering made payment for sin; He gave the sacrifice which made satisfaction.
      1. As the propitiatory sacrifice He suffered God's wrath.
      2. His suffering atoned and reconciled.
    3. He bore God's wrath completely, so God has no more wrath against us - ever (Rom. 8:32-35).
      1. His suffering was so infinitely precious (God's Son and willingly) that it merited the right to deliver from hell into heaven.
      2. We never taste God's wrath (even in our sufferings), but only His love.
    4. He learned in the setting of suffering what it is to be obedient to the Father in the most difficult time.
  3. Jesus’ suffering bore fruit.
    1. His suffering actually atoned, made real and full payment (John 10: 28; I Peter 2:24; Col. 1:21,22).
      1. All and each of the sins of His people are fully covered!
      2. In Jesus' suffering we see the greatness of the love and mercy of God.
    2. First, for whom? Catechism says, "the sins of all mankind."
      1. Only for all of the sins of the elect: "I lay down My life for My sheep," (John 6:39; 10:15); save His people, (Matt. 1:21).
      2. “All mankind” conveys the Scriptural teaching that all of the elect together form the essence of mankind.
    3. Learn how horrible sin is in what and how much Jesus had to suffer because of our sin.