Becoming like Jesus in suffering requires first reflecting on Jesus' own suffering. After eating the Last Supper, Jesus was so distressed about his impending crucifixion that, while his friends fell asleep and failed him, he remained awake late into the night, sweating drops of blood in stress-filled prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. I don't know if you have ever been told this but you can actually become like Jesus by reflecting on Jesus' own suffering.
The selection that I am going to share with you about Jesus' suffering comes from the book, 'Who Do You Think You Are,' by Mark Driscoll. I read this book about 4 years ago when I was in high school. I came across this part of the book and remember being immediately affected by it. This excerpt from the book has been something that motivates me every single day. It motivates me because I know that Jesus suffered for us and I want to do whatever I can possibly to do give God glory because of Jesus. This concept motivates me when I am working out for basketball. I push my self to the limit and go that extra mile for God every single time, there is no good in it if I do it for myself. All I do I do for him.
He was betrayed by one of his closet friends, Judas. He was arrested on trumped-up charges and brought forth by false witnesses. A mob of angry men beat him severely, and he was stripped in shame and whipped. The soldiers used a flagrum, a torture tool with a handle from which proceeded strips of leather with weight affixed to the ends, in order to tenderize Jesus' back, legs, and buttocks. Its hooks sank deeply into his flesh, ripping off skin, muscles, tendons, and bones. Jesus' body shook violently from the trauma. His blood loss was severe. His tormentors then pressed a crown of thorns into his brow in mockery. On his back they dropped a heavy, rough-hewn crossbar, which he was forced to carry through a mocking crowd to his place of crucifixion. Jesus fell under the weight of the cross, crushing his chest on the pavement under the perhaps one hundred pounds of weight, possibly puncturing his heart sac. After getting help carrying his cross, Jesus arrived at Golgotha, where the soldiers and crowd disrespectfully pulled out his beard, spat on him, and mocked him in front of his family and friends. The equivalent of railroad spikes were nailed through his hands and feet, containing the most sensitive nerve centers in the human body. As he was lifted up, the mob cursed him as his body convulsed, blood and sweat dripping off him. Soon after, Jesus gave up his sprit and died. To ensure his death, a soldier ran a spear through his side, puncturing his heart, and blood and water poured from his side. Jesus suffered greatly for our sins. He was afflicted both by us and for us. Our sin killed God, but his death brought us life. His affliction was for our salvation. But beyond that, the primary purpose of his suffering was to glorify God the Father by at once perfectly revealing true justice and mercy. If you're in Christ, you can endure affliction as he did, to the glory of God.
Next time you are going through a tough situation-I encourage you to remember what Jesus went through. By reflecting on this, you can become more and more like Jesus.
-you are loved-
No comments:
Post a Comment