A closer look at the things Jesus suffered for us and to fulfill God's plan. Then we will have a better understand of the "sufferings of Christ." Jesus was:
- A man of sorrow — "He was...a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53:3
- Homeless — And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." (Luke 9:58)
- Alone at times — He was lead by the Spirit into the wilderness alone to be tested by satan for forty days. Matthew 4:1-2) "But he would go away to places where he could be alone for prayer. (Luke 5:16); Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going." (John 8:14) "
- Misunderstood—"When many of Jesus' disciples heard him, they said, "What he says is hard to accept [or understand]. Who wants to listen to him anymore? Then Jesus said to the twelve: Will you also go away?" (John 6:67)
- Despised and rejected —"He was despised and rejected by men," (Isaiah 53:3) "But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown." (Luke 4:16) For even his own brothers did not believe in him. (John 7:5) But first he must suffer many things and be rejected of this generation. (Luke 17:25) "Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures, 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes.'?" (Matthew 21:42) "And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again." (Mark 8:31)
- Weeping for lost souls —"When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it,"(Luke 19:41
- Hated — "When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath." (Luke 4:28)
- Tested — And Jesus said, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” (Matthew 26:39
- Betrayed —"Judas went to the chief priests and the temple guards and discussed with them how he could betray Jesus." (Luke 22:4) The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” (Matthew 24:26)
- Falsely accused —Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses," (Matthew 26:59-60) And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. (Luke 23:2 and 10)
- Physically abused—hit or slapted, spit upon, beaten, whipped, crucified, and pierced—Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, (Matthew 26:67) Then Pilot had Jesus flogged with lead tip wipes. (John 19:1) And Jesus went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. (John 19:18-18) Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water immediately came out. (John 19:34)
All these things happened and more happened to Jesus, because He chose to do the will of His Father. None of them were the results of wrong choices or selfish desires.
