He Understands.
For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. - Hebrews 4:15
As we face trials in life, it is easy to feel like no one understands.
That we are alone on this journey.
But as I turn the pages of scripture, I see a God who not only understands our sufferings, but a Saviour who suffered Himself.
He was “ tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15).
In Philippians, we read the beautiful verses
“who though he existed in the form of God
did not regard equality with God
as something to be grasped,
but emptied himself
by taking on the form of a slave,
by looking like other men,
and by sharing in human nature.
He humbled himself,
by becoming obedient to the point of death.”
We have a Saviour who understands our sufferings because He Himself suffered, more than we could know.
Most of all, His sufferings were for us.
The prophet Isaiah could prophesy concerning the Lord Jesus that “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.” (Isaiah 53:3)
If we feel alone in our sufferings, know that we are not alone and that the Lord knows how it feels like to go through sufferings.
Here are some of our Lord’s sufferings that I gathered from the scriptures
1. He Suffered Betrayal
Do we feel betrayed by people that we thought we could trust? Our Lord understands.
He was betrayed by Judas, His own disciple.
“Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.” - John 18:3
2. He Suffered Abandonment
Do we feel abandoned by our friends? Our Lord understands.
When the going got tough, He was forsaken by His disciples. We read that “…all the disciples forsook him, and fled.” - Matthew 26:56.
Then He was denied by Peter three times “One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.” - John 18: 26-27
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
Romans 8:18
3. He Suffered False Accusations
Do we suffer from false accusations or misunderstandings? Our Lord Understands.
Our Lord was falsely accused by the very people He came to save.
We read that “the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death” (Matt 26:59) yet, we read that He “committed himself to God who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23)
4. He Suffered Rejection
Do we suffer from rejection? Our Lord understands.
We read that “He came unto His own but His own receive Him not” (John 1:11).
When Pilate asked the crowd what they would do with Jesus as he found no fault in Him, we hear the crowd cry “Away with him, away with him, crucify him, crucify him” (John 19:15)
5. He Suffered Humiliation
Do we feel disrespected? Our Lord understands.
Our Lord was mocked by the Jews and humiliated by the Romans.
The Romans would mock him saying “Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.” (John 19:3).
During His crucifixion, we read that “those who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are God’s Son, come down from the cross!”(Matt 27:39-40)
6. He Suffered Physically
Do we suffer physically? Our Lord understands.
Our Lord was tortured by the Romans as He bore our sins on the cross.
The crucifixion is one of the cruelest ways that a person can die, yet our Lord chose to drank the cup of suffering and He drank it all.
We read that “…he soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe.” (John 19:2)
Know that we are not alone in our sufferings - God is with us and our Lord Jesus understands what we are going through.
In spite of the suffering that we face, I am reminded that God provides us the strength to endure.
I am encouraged as I read what Paul wrote in 2 Cor 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” and in Romans 8: 18 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
As we endure, let us take comfort that we have a living hope in Christ Jesus and He suffered for us and so we can sing
“It was for me, yes, all for me,
O love of God, so great so free!
O wondrous love, I'll shout and sing,
He died for me, my Lord and King!”