Jesus Suffered Physically and Emotionally on Good Friday
When was the last time you thought about how much Jesus suffered physically – and emotionally – in the days before His crucifixion?
In Mark 14 (AMPC), Jesus (the night before He would die for our sins), was “struck with terror,” and His soul was “overwhelmed with grief – so that it almost kills Me!” Dreading what lay ahead, He pleaded, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42 ESV).
He prayed with so much anguish that “His sweat became like great clots of blood” (Luke 22:44 AMPC).
His emotions were real. Raw. Intense.
A short time later, Jesus was betrayed by Judas (one of His own disciples) and arrested. His closest friends deserted Him, afraid they’d also be arrested (Mark 14).
Read (and think about) how the guards mocked Jesus and spat upon Him – repeatedly. How they wove a crown of thorns and shoved it on His head. How they struck Jesus, causing the thorns to penetrate deeper into His scalp. Notice how the guards punched Jesus (God!) with their fists and slapped His face again and again. How false witnesses lied about Him.
“And when they had bound Jesus, they took Him away [violently] and handed Him over to Pilate” who had Jesus scourged (Mark 15:1, 15 AMPC). They beat Him with a whip containing sharp pieces of bone and metal designed to rip as much flesh as possible.
And then they crucified Jesus. They pounded nails through His hands (or wrists) and feet and hung Him, naked, on a cross. He hung there, in excruciating pain, for hours until He died. For us – for you. (Luke 23).
It’s hard to perceive the extent of the agony and humiliation Jesus endured under such brutality.
In His humanity, Jesus, the Son of God, our Savior, felt each slap, each insult, each thorn, each swing of the whip, each nail. He endured the suffering of hanging on the cross and struggling for every breath as He scraped His raw back up and down on the rough wooden cross. Though He was God in the flesh, His “God-ness” didn’t spare Him a second of the torture.
Not even the worst moment. When our wretched, putrid sins was placed on Jesus, God (the Father), turned His face away. “My God, my God,” Jesus cried in agony, “why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34 ESV). We’ll never know how incredibly alone He felt at that moment.
Jesus did nothing to deserve the shame, suffering and sorrow He endured.
And we did nothing to deserve His willingness to endure that shame, suffering and sorrow.
But I’m eternally thankful He did. Aren’t you?
What do you think?
I’d love to hear your thoughts about this post. (Others might also benefit from your comment.)
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AMEN!
AMEN!, indeed! Thank you, Jesus, for suffering so much for us.
(Thank you, Marla, for reading my devotion – and stopping by.)
I don’t know how many years ago I heard a description of what crucifixion does to a human body, along with the beatings and other mistreatment Jesus received prior to the crucifixion. Jesus’s sacrifice became much more meaningful to me. No greater love.
Amen!! NO greater love!
(Welcome to the Today Can Be Different blog, Beth. Thank you for stopping by!)
Thank you Jesus for your love,you took all the pain for me,suffered,so that I may be free.Your love is amazing!
Hi, Linda. I SO agree: His love is AMAZING. (Thank you for stopping by again!)
Forever grateful to the One who saved my soul from the pit of hell. Not one of us deserved His sacrifice on the cross, but knowing He endured His suffering to the very end helps me know I can do the same. Though my suffering (from chronic pain) pales in comparison to His, I look forward to the day I will see Him face-to-face, to thank Him for His sacrifice and forever worship my Savior and King.
Hi, Linda. Welcome to Today Can Be Different.
I, too, am forever grateful for His amazing love for me. I appreciate your reminding me (and others) that His perseverance in horrific suffering encourages me that I can bear my suffering.
(Sorry to hear about your chronic pain, Linda. I will be praying for you.)
Amen! Thank you God for sending your son fora sinner as unworthy as me. I think about how he took my place often on the cross. Most of all thankful on the 3rd day he arose and,we have eternal life!
Hi, Susan. So NICE to see you on Today Can Be Different.
And … yes and Amen! How amazing is our God?!! His love for you and me is absolutely inconceivable.
What a sobering day we observe today, Good Friday, AND the powerful event we celebrate this Sunday!
Help me Lord. I am a born again believer and have everythint in life and yet i feel depressed, unhappy and anxious all the time. I am not sure how long I can hold on.
Hi, Julian. Welcome to Today Can Be Different – where I hope you’ll find encouragement.
I am so sorry you’re going through such a difficult time. I’ve been there.
Please don’t give up. Are you able to get in touch with a Christian counselor – one who bases their counsel on Scripture? Someone who “hears” you and offers compassionate Biblical counsel?
In the meanwhile, if you think it could help, try searching my blog for articles on anxiety and depression.
Please stay in touch.
Thank you for this devotional, Cheryl. In all its gruesome and brutal detail, thank you for this reminder. In my humanness, I may want to turn my head and look away, but the fullness of God’s wonderous love is right in the middle of this horrible brutality.
As a side note, when I consider these passages, I think of the importance of “self-control” – the last quality listed as part of the fruit of the Spirit. Were I to have been subject to even the smallest sample of this abuse, my human reaction would be a full measure of retaliation, with little thought for self-control. But Jesus, the Son of God bowing to the will of the Father, was able to exercise complete control over His human self that was being so brutalized.
Hi, Stephen. Thank you for your great comment – both paragraphs! I, like you, would have turned my head too. AND I, like you, would have retaliated at even a fraction of what Jesus suffered. The more I think about it, the more I’m amazed at the wonders of our Savior.
Welcome to Today Can Be Different. Please stop by again.
<3 Sheryl, thank you for sharing your April, 2022 message about the crucifixion of God's precious, perfect Son. May we pause to solemnly reflect on your words: "Jesus did nothing to deserve the shame, suffering and sorrow He endured. And we did nothing to deserve His willingness to endure that shame, suffering and sorrow. But I’m eternally thankful He did. Aren’t you?" Let us rejoice as we answer: "Yes" May we lift up our unending thanksgiving and praise for God's plan to save mankind. Such amazing love, indeed! Amen! <3 I am both honored and blessed to share your message on my Timeline. <3
Thank you SO much for your uplifting comment, Joyce.
And thank you once again for sharing this devotion on your Facebook page.