Question:

I understand from Hebrews 9:22 that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins, but why did Jesus have to suffer so much before His death?

Answer:

The same book, different chapter answers your question declaring, “We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin,” (Heb 4:15). Jesus Christ can relate to our pains and difficulties in a realistic fashion because He has experienced the same pains and temptations we feel. God knows exactly what it feels like to be human.

Matthew records that when the executioners arrived at Golgotha, Jesus was offered wine mixed with gall to drink. A word describing gall is anodyne, which refers to anything that relieves pain. Before the spikes penetrated His body, Jesus refused the numbing effects of the gall. (See Mat 27:34.) The full brunt of human suffering was experienced by our Savior, who can now sympathize with our weaknesses, pain, rejection or depression. Jesus experienced the highest level of human suffering ever known. (See Isaiah 52:14.)

This says nothing about what happened in the Garden of Gethsemane. He wasn’t eating any cheeseburgers, drinking any six-packs, or taking Darvons to kill the pain. He paid it all when He paid for us and our sins. Who ever sweat great drops of blood like Jesus did as He was loaded with the sins of the entire world to be crucified? (See Luke 22:44.) Jesus hung between heaven and earth with no help from above and no compassion from below. (See Mark 15:34.) Not to mention being surrounded by demons identified prophetically as the bulls of Bashan in Psalm 22:1-18.

Jesus’ concern for us is proven. Although this current world is fallen and falling apart, you can cast your cares upon Jesus Christ knowing that He really cares for you. (See 1Pet 5:7.) He sympathizes with our weaknesses because He knows all about suffering experientially. When we feel like we’re free falling and our parachute is not opening, He understands. When He is our Savior in a personal sense, we can trust we are in His hands despite how we may feel. As I am reminded that Jesus was in total control while hanging on His cross, I am reminded that He can handle all my stuff.

Revelation 21:4

Reach Pastor Huck at calvarycorner.com