"The Suffering Son of Man."
April 7, 2022, 12:13 PM

“The Suffering Son of Man.”

Luke 18:31-34

Have you ever been surprised by pain and suffering in your life? I think it would be safe to say that almost every time suffering and pain has come into our lives it has come as a surprise. There are of course, a few exceptions. For example, when I decided to sled down the stairs in the dorm because there was no snow outside, I was not surprised by the pain of hitting the concrete floor at the bottom of the stairwell. Sometimes we know the pain is coming because we have done something we knew we shouldn’t. Other times we are surprised by the pain that shows up. Cavities in our teeth can be forming for a very long time before we feel the pain. Other health issues can be the same.

In this reading from Luke 18, we find that the suffering and death of Jesus did not come as a surprise to Jesus at all. Luke records two other times where Jesus told His disciples that He would suffer and die. This third prediction in Luke 18 is the most detailed. He is clear and direct about what was going to happen after He entered Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. As we enter Holy Week starting with the events of Palm Sunday, the story of Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion, and death can still shock us. We can also talk about it in ways that mirror our experiences of pain. The disciples were shocked and scared when Jesus was arrested. Jesus was not. He knew it was coming. The disciples were stunned when Jesus was led out to be crucified. Jesus was not. He knew it was coming. The disciples were astonished that Jesus, the Messiah, was dead and buried. Jesus was not. He knew it was coming.

The disciples should have known what was going to happen. Jesus had told them clearly at least three times! Yet, Luke reminds us that the disciples did not understand what Jesus had told them. The meaning of what Jesus had said was “hidden from them.” They couldn’t wrap their minds around a Messiah that would be betrayed and killed. The Messiah was supposed to be a mighty King that would vanquish all enemies. Jesus, however, kept telling them that His Kingship and His mission was different. He was King. He is King. But His mission was to save His people from a different enemy. Jesus came to deal with and vanquish a greater enemy than any political enemy. He came to vanquish sin and death.

Jesus went through all that suffering and pain to bring salvation to everyone who believes in Him. Paul says in Romans 10:8b-9, “This is the message of faith that we proclaim: If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Jesus submitted to the pain, suffering, and humiliation of the cross so that He could save His people from their sins. Jesus was not surprised by the fact that He was arrested and killed. He knew it was coming. From that immense pain and suffering He was going to save His people. So, He went willingly. Jesus was sovereign over what was happening to Him. In John 10:17-18 Jesus says, “This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it back up again. No one takes it from me because I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it back up again. I have received this command from my Father.”

The fact that Jesus was sovereign over His death is good news. It shows how much Jesus loves us. It shows that Jesus understands pain and suffering as well. Hebrews 4:15-16 tells us, “For we do not have a high priest [meaning Jesus] who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.” The author of Hebrews wants us to see that because Jesus suffered so greatly, He understands what we are going through. Jesus remained sinless through all the pain and suffering He went through. That is not something we are capable of. Jesus knows that we need help. He is our help! We can go to Christ, run to Christ, when we are in need because we know that He will give us grace and mercy to help us! Please don’t miss this.

No matter what you are going through: physical, mental, spiritual suffering of any kind – Jesus is there to help you. He may answer your prayer in many ways. He may provide counselors, pastors, friends, and family members to help you endure. He may act in other ways on your behalf. Run to Christ with all your pain and suffering. We may be surprised by the pain and suffering that comes our way. But Jesus never is. He is sovereign over all things (Romans 8:28-30). He is compassionate and is there with you through everything (Psalm 23).