Why Did Christ Suffer?

... He [Jesus] knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:41-44, NKJV)

Here he is -- the man who taught us not to fear death -- fearing death!   Why?

Oh, yes!  He taught us not to fear mere physical death at the hands of men, but that we ought to fear him who has the power to destroy both body and soul in hell!  That bloody sweat proves he is fearing no ordinary death!    

And, remember his desperate, but pious cry from the cross?  “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  He is suffering the torments of hell, and dying under a curse!  The true and righteous judge blames him!  He is condemning him for a world of sins and crimes he never committed!

See!  He wears the crown of thorns -- like Adam, the King of Thorns.  He deserves to die!  God makes him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him!  The one who came to give life, dies to give it!  His prayer to escape the cup -- the most fervent and sincere prayer he ever uttered -- is answered “No!”.  Sweating blood in agony, he takes the cup -- for us.  This great, saving work of God -- this death under the penalty of our sin -- is his greatest work of all!

Now, look!  Jesus rises from the dead!  The divine power of Life is still greater than the divine curse of death!  His Father truly is good!  This righteous man, whose prayer for deliverance was answered “No!”, was dead and now lives!  It is the death of death!  He is given all authority in heaven and on earth!  He is given the name above every name -- the name at which every knee will bow.  And, we are saved!  Since we are baptized into his death, we have borne the full curse for our sins -- in him!  We have been executed, along with him!  The doom of the broken Law has been visited upon us -- in him!  In him, we are raised from the dead to eternal life!    

God was in Christ, reconciling sinners to himself.  Now, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God!  Your salvation is accomplished -- in Christ.  God is at peace with you -- in Christ.  In Christ, you shall be at peace with him!  Dear saved and lost sinners, receive this suffering Savior! 

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!