"Despised...Rejected...Stricken...Smitten...
Afflicted..Pierced...Crushed...
Wounded... Oppressed..."
Isaiah 53.3-7
These words do not do justice to what really happened.
No words can do so. We cannot imagine what really happened, though we are awed by the horror of what we do imagine.
The utmost brutality and humiliation.
Pain inflicted with cruelty and malice, deep desire to hurt and punish, brutalize, shame, torture, unmitigated evil with intent to sadistically brutalize and abuse.
Jesus suffered a torture greater than any man or woman has ever imagined, nevertheless experienced. It came from a sadistic malice greater than any person has ever poured out on anyone else.
We understand sadism and malice, torture to humiliate, mock, shame, and destroy both body and soul, but what Jesus experienced went beyond what we can imagine or what any man can perpetrate aganinst another.
For this was the ultimate venom of Satan against God, The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This was Satan's greatest rage. And Satan intended that we be next!
But!...He can never do this again!
It was his worst, the worst of all eternity, in that one night and day of malicious brutality.
What about the awful pain and shame that is allowed to be vented by some warped people against others? The gang tortures, rapes, sexual slavery and tortures, child abuse.....? The cruelty and horrors of war.... Accidents and diseases.... Famines, plagues, catastropes..... Volcanoes, earthquakes, storms....
None of this compares to what Jesus experienced. His suffering of body and soul went further and deeper than any and all have ever known.
So, ...? And,...?
He did so for us. He took what Satan intended for us and now saves and protects us from the worst. He died for us in this excruciating way because He loves us, to protect and save us from such horror.
Though He does not yet stop the suffering of people today, He comes to say, "I know what you are going through. I understand, and I am with you. I love you. I am with you; I will never leave you or betray you. I will save you."
When we understand Jesus' love and find comfort, strength, and encouragement, and finally deliverance in HIs grace, wisdom, and power, we walk out of that awfulness with a realization of how much Jesus loves us because He suffered so much more than we did in order to save us.
The greatest of our sufferings lets us know more of the greater sufferings of Jesus. We see His sacrificial love for us in our sufferings.
Coming to know the love of Jesus in our sufferings, we can proclaim that loveto all we know.
The Father sent the Son into that suffering. The Holy Sprit stood by while it was happening. Jesus suffered alone.
But the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit come to us in our suffering. We do not suffer alone. Even though it may seem like we are alone, abandoned, betrayed, and victimized without the help of God to save us, none of these things separate us from the love of God.
When we realize this love, we praise and proclaim the compassion, mercy, humility, gentleness, forgiveness, encouragement, comfort, joy, thanksgiving, gratitude, honor, and glory of God to all we meet.
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