Why Christ suffered.

John 10:11 – 30, 1 Peter 2: 24 to 25
Peter was writing to people in this section who were slaves. He told them to submit to the established order. For some with oppressive masters this was very hard. To not retaliate but to bear suffering graciously would bring glory to the Lord Jesus who died for them. We want to avoid suffering. Peter reminded them of why Christ suffered. Things are not fair. Sometimes we make bad decisions. Sometimes people are unfair, life is like that. Jesus suffered unfairly, he did no wrong or ever sinned yet he suffered. We should follow his example. What would Jesus do in our place. We should want to be like Christ especially when we suffer for righteousness sake. We suffer only a tiny fraction of what he suffered, he could have escaped his suffering but he silently endured so we could have our sins forgiven. He suffered out of choice – see John 10:11 – 30. To suffer is often the only right choice we can make. We learn the best lessons when we suffer with tears in our eyes. Jesus left judgement to God and did not retaliate. In China Christians suffer much
IN CHRIST’S SUFFERING WAS A PATTERN FOR US – verse 21
It was innocent, silent, a choice and in faith
HIS SUFFERING WAS PERSONAL
He did not make recompense by offering a victim, but was himself the sacrifice. He was the victim of sin, a sinless one who paid the penalty for the sin of his people. Only he could do it.
HIS SUFFERING WAS SUBSTITUTIONARY – Isaiah 53:4
This chapter is full of this sort of language. The Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all etc. In the Old Testament people’s sin were symbolically laid on the animal and it was killed. He was treated as if he had been a sinner, in order that we might be treated as if we had not sinned; as if we were righteous – 1 Corinthians 15:1. It was a legal transaction. God the father transferred to God the son the penalty due to our sin. We do not punish according to what people deserve today. Many think God will overlook their sin when they are compared to others. We are free of sin’s consequences if Christ took our place.
HIS SUFFERING WAS SEVERE – Deuteronomy 21:22, Galatians 3:13
He died on the tree, this term is deliberately chosen by Peter and not the cross. Deuteronomy 21:22 – the dead body on the tree meant he was under a curse. It was a symbol of shame. It was a warning to everyone. Jesus took God’s curse – see Galatians 3:13. Crucifixion was a Roman practice, not Jewish, to be hung on a tree was the maximum curse. Can we ever understand how the holy, harmless and undefiled Son of God felt as he was treated as if he were a vile criminal? He knew and did nothing but good in the world. He was naked and reviled for sins he had not committed.
HIS SUFFERING WAS REDEMPTIVE
The power of sin is so great that we can’t be delivered from it by promising to turn over a new leaf or by sheer will power. Sin has separated us from God. There had to be death of our old attitude to sin and a resurrection to new life in Jesus Christ. Romans 6 to 8. Your old self dies and we have a new life in Christ. The person who is now living is the new you. Colossians 3:l – 4, we have been changed, live like you have been saved.
HIS SUFFERING WAS CURATIVE.
Isaiah 53:5 – his wounds are a synonym for his death. The cross is the place where all the wounds of sin are healed. Sin has brought emotional problems, guilt and depression. If you suffer from emotional problems – guilt, anxiety, depression, anger or whatever – there is healing in the cross of Christ. There is the answer to answer for guilt, hopelessness and depression. Matthew 8:l6. Does it give us the right to expect physical healing because of the atonement? It is a wrong understanding. Jesus healed physically to demonstrate heavenly truths. Jesus healed people to illustrate the physical healing all believers will experience in the glory yet to come. Disease and death cannot be permanently removed until sin is permanently removed. We still see death and sin. We will only be delivered from it at the resurrection. Jesus conquered sin but his people sinned, Jesus conquered sickness but we still get ill. We can only be healed and delivered from death in the new world.
HIS SUFFERING WAS RECONCILING
a) It speaks of our past – you were. We were like sheep going astray. Sheep are silly, gullible, often dirty and defenceless. Domestic sheep need care of a shepherd. If they are not prevented they will constantly wander. Peter sees in these slaves who had been wandering but were now part of a flock. Why do they wander? They need a shepherd to guide them. The lost do not come back when it is lost. We are self willed like a silly lost sheep. Jesus seeks us today.
b) It speaks of our present and future – but now. We can know a bright future if we have his influence. There has been a turning around, a conversion. Luke 22:32.
(i) A coming to Christ the shepherd – Isaiah 40 and John l0. The Christians clung to this image of the Christ the good shepherd, he will never let us down.
(ii) A coming to Christ the overseer. We are under the care of the Good Shepherd. He uses a rod and staff when he must. If you’re seeking to follow Him, then it ought to be a comforting thought. Jesus oversees his sheep and makes sure they are all there and cares for them. Believers have returned to the overseer and shepherd of their souls. Christ is our overseer, it comforts us if we know this. If he is not our shepherd we will not go to Heaven, we will wander and be lost.