12 Horrific Ways Jesus Freely Suffered for You
Baskets filled with candy and tiny treasures. Head-to-toe new outfits. And the fragrance of flowers and festive music fills our church sanctuaries.
We love to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, but it’s hard to look at all He endured before…
He used His servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing.
1 Peter 2:24 (MSG)
I’m humbled and overwhelmed every time I think about the Lord’s willingness to suffer the consequences of my sins on the cross.
Although we know the cross was horrific, I’ve been thinking about all the ways Jesus freely suffered excruciating pain physically and emotionally…
- He washed dirty, stinky feet, teaching a lesson of humble love. (John 13:1-17)
- He knew and allowed Judas’ betrayal. (John 13:18-30)
- He told the disciples that He would suffer and die. (John 18:4)
- He warned Peter that he would deny Him. (John 13:31–38)
- He prayed for the disciples and for you and me. (John 17)
- He anguished and cried out to the Father in anticipation of the coming hours. (Matthew 26:36–44)
- He was betrayed and arrested as His disciples fled. (Matthew 26:47–56)
- He stood trial before the High Priest, Pilate, and Herod. (John 18:12–40)
- He was beaten, mocked, whipped raw, abused, and crowned with thorns. (John 19:1–5)
- He was rejected and sentenced to be crucified. (John 19:6–16)
- He was nailed to the cross and left to die. (Matthew 27:32–44)
- He willingly gave up His spirit to death. (Mark 15:33–39)
As I imagine those moments, I want to look away. I want to skip the way He willingly endured what I deserved. I want to look away from His death and celebrate the joy of the empty tomb.
But I need to remember both, so please pause with me to consider…
How could the I Am, willingly become the Messiah? How could He walk away from the glories of heaven to live among sinners, knowing the horrors He would endure? How could the Eternal Son of God give Himself to die for a broken sinner, like me?
I prayerfully asked Him to tell me what He wanted me to share with you, and my heart heard Him say…
“Tell them that I did it all because that’s how much I love them.”
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
John 15:9 (ESV)
Don’t hurry through the next few days in anticipation of your Easter celebration. Hold their truth in your heart and remember that’s how very much the Savior, Jesus, loves you.
Peter said it like this…
He never sinned,
1 Peter 2:22–23
nor ever deceived anyone.
He did not retaliate when He was insulted,
nor threaten revenge when He suffered.
All because we were lost in our sins…
It was our weaknesses He carried;
Isaiah 53:4a, 5a
it was our sorrows that weighed Him down…
He was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
My righteous servant will make it possible
for many to be counted righteous
for He will bear all their sins.
Praise God! Those words were written by Isaiah 700 years before Jesus fulfilled them.
We can trust God’s Word. We can rely on His promises. Jesus freely suffered for you and me so that we might be declared righteous before God. May we live each day for His glory.
Let’s pray…
A Prayer of Thanks Because
Jesus Freely Suffered
Lord God, Your love changes everything. It always has and always will. You knew how all of life would unfold before You created anything. You knew we would fail to obey You. You knew Jesus would come to our sinful world, suffer, and die to save us, and You never gave up on us. You loved us before creation and promised to love us forever.
“Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.” (Psalm 89:2)
You gave everything because of Your perfect, unfailing love. And You did it all, because You wanted a relationship with us.
I am deeply sorry for all I have done that caused Jesus suffering. I am so humbled and grateful for all that You have done and continue to do for me. My heart desires to SEEK, KNOW, LOVE, TRUST, and OBEY You faithfully forever.
Please help me keep my heart and mind focused on You, remembering that I am saved by grace through all the Lord has done for me. I worship You. I love you. I give myself to You. Amen.
And a few more helpful quotes…
“The crucifixion was not only the climax of Christ’s suffering but also the ultimate expression of His love.” ~ Tim Keller
My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
Outside of Christ, I am only a sinner, but in Christ, I am saved. Outside of Christ, I am empty; in Christ, I am full. Outside of Christ, I am weak; in Christ, I am strong. Outside of Christ, I cannot; in Christ, I am more than able. Outside of Christ, I have been defeated; in Christ, I am already victorious. How meaningful are the words, “in Christ.” ~ Watchman Nee
May God bless you this weekend as you focus your heart and mind on our Lord and Savior, Jesus, who freely suffered to make us His own. Praise God for His overwhelming love!
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Thank you, Deb, for reminding us to slow down and ponder on Christ’s great sacrifice for us. All because of His love for us. It just brings me to my knees. I am grateful to be “in Christ”.
❤️Cecilia
Thank you, Cecilia. You said it perfectly. I too am thankful to be “in Christ”. By grace alone. God bless you as you focus your heart and mind on Him.
We too often rush into the joy of Easter and do not take the time to reflect upon the excruciating suffering Jesus endured on the cross because of His great and eternal love for us. Thank you, Deb, for guiding us through the passion of Christ. I pray you have a blessed Easter!
I remember watching The Passion of the Christ and wanting to look away through the crucifixion scenes. It’s hard to grasp all that our Savior suffered for us, but what a gracious, awesome gift His has bestowed on us. By grace, through faith, in Christ alone. God bless your celebration of His love and resurrection, Martha! HUGS!
Jesus Christ…I cannot imagine the pain and suffering you endured, for me, for all of us on earth. I can only imagine how glorious it must be in heaven, for that same reason. I can imagine because I have a foretaste of Your love in my walk with You. Today and tomorrow and the day after, I want to focus on You Jesus, what You did for me, what You did for this mixed up world, and remind those I love who have forgotten…You were sent for us, to save us, to redeem us, and to use us for our Fathers glory. I want to play a role in that story. I pray for courage, to speak and act like our Fathers daughter, and like a sister in, with and for You. Amen.
Thank you for this beautiful prayer, JoAnne! May we fix our eyes on our Lord and Savior this week and every day of our lives. God be with you and bless you abundantly.
Oh Deb! This post is SO good! Thank you for taking all the time AND energy to put it all together in one place for us!
I shared it with my family and pray they are blessed by it, as I was!
Thanks again and have a wonderful weekend.
Another Deb
You’re so very welcome, Deb! Thank you for sharing it with your family. God bless you as you celebration the love of Christ Jesus and His resurrection this weekend. God bless you!
Thank you Deb for this post to remind all of us of what Jesus endured that we may be forgiven of our sins. I think of God the Father and how it must have hurt Him to see His son suffer so much. It was all planned from the beginning and as you said, God knew we could not keep His commands. What a gift we have all been given in Christ!! This Easter season, I will and am going to ponder all of this and have my quiet time with God to be a bit longer than I usually do.
May God bless you and your family, and I pray that you will have a very safe and wonderful Easter.
How you have blessed all of us here as followers of Counting My Blessings!
Thank you so much, Sue! The Lord’s love for us is so great. That God know it all and yet allow it because of love overwhelms me. I never want to jump over all that it cost for me to be forgiven and free. May your celebration of our Savior be abundantly blessed! HUGS!