"But the fact is, it was our pains he carried--[our] disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures."
Isaiah 53:4 [MSG]
The pain was excruciating.
This time, it drew fresh tears. He opened his eyes and barely saw through his hazy vision.
Dusty sweat trickled down his brow and into his eyes, stinging them.
He could hear the chaotic chatter at the background, someone mentioned his name in a statement and he tried to listen.
The next blow fell on his back and distracted his thoughts...
His body was in a great mess: His skin hung loose at different points where the razor-sharp pieces of metal ripped his flesh, and flies struggled to perch on the raw wound.
He had lost so much blood.
He was still losing more...
He was thirsty.
He asked himself again if he deserved to be thus punished- he could have simply disappeared.
Or unleashed a legion of his able bodied warriors.
All he needed to do was say a word. One word.
He remembered the slaps he received, the sharp pain that shot down his spine as the thorny crown was forced to sit on his head, the sight of the whip with sharp pieces of metal and bone attached.
And the mocking faces of the soldiers.
He remembered his Father.
He thought of the people he was supposed to represent.
He remembered how often his Father talked about his plan for their redemption and their future fellowship with Him.
This strengthened his resolve.
"For their sake", he muttered, "I'll do it for their sake".
The scheduled 39 strokes was almost done and he sagged as the last one hit him.
My Jesus!
Jesus was also human. He felt pain and joy. He was also tempted, but did not sin.
If you have "missed it", do not run away from God because He loves you and wants to help you to overcome.
And Jesus, "...since he himself has gone through suffering and temptation, he is able to help us when we are being tempted."
Hebrews 7.18 [NLT].
