MATTHEW 17:12

But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”

TO PONDER 

…the Son of Man is going to suffer…

And he did. Big time. In fact, what Jesus went through on the cross, had to have a new word invented. ‘Excruciating’! This word was invented because there wasn’t a word that covered the pain and anguish he went through. ‘Excruciating’ literally means, ‘out of the cross’. 

And the suffering included being spat on, humiliated, having the living daylights beaten out of him, and large nails rammed through his wrists. 

And all this he did for us. Wow! That’s an amazing God, with an amazing love. But that’s who he is. God is love. The be all and end all. That’s his job. That’s why he sent Jesus to go through the stuff above. No other religion sends someone’s son to die. Love is his message. The whole of scripture is a love story – about God and humanity. Sure, there’s plenty of narrative of wars, (especially in Kings), but the overall message is one of love. He doesn’t know anything else. He can’t help loving all of us. 

And our response? To believe. To have faith. And when we do, we cannot help but be moved, and to respond to others in love. 

There’s an old saying that goes, I asked Jesus, ‘How much do you love me? He said, ‘this much’. And he stretched out and arms…and died’.

So anytime you feel pain, in any of the down times, among any of the crappy feelings you have, or any times you suffer, remember, that he’s been there – done that, for us.  

PRAYER:Thank you, God, for doing the God-stuff because we sure couldn’t. Thanks for sending your son, to do the suffering, so we wouldn’t have to. Thanks for giving up a life, so we could have a life, with you, forever. Amen 

Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping