8 Days to Prepare Your Heart for Easterਨਮੂਨਾ

For Joy, Jesus Endured

By Sarah Freymuth

It comes as a whisper. A spoken thought in the crowd. What to do with this man who claims to be King? “Crucify him.”

This man with gentle eyes promises to save Israel. But He hasn’t given the masses what they expected.

The religious leaders won’t have it, and Pilate acquiesces to the crowd's demand. Jesus is sentenced to die.

The convicted Comforter is led away to be flogged and mocked. A crown of thorns. A scarlet robe.

And then the cross. They beat nails into Jesus' skin, strap Him to wood. They tell Him that if He is truly the Son of God, He will get Himself off of that cross.

But the Son stays silent. He hangs — not to prove a point or amaze the crowds. He hangs for joy.

What joy is there in jeers and bruises? What love compels Jesus to stay on that cross?

A love that endures.

"... Jesus [is] the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God"(Hebrews 12:2, ESV).

He endured pain, humiliation and solitude because He knew that through His sacrifice, we could have life with God forever. Jesus hung for us, to pay the price for everything we’ve done wrong or will ever do wrong. He took the punishment we deserve, experiencing anguish like we have never known and will never know if we trust in Him for salvation. In Christ, we have right standing with God once and for all.

Jesus' love compelled Him to endure the cross and empowers us to endure our difficulties. Our Savior sympathizes with us because He has gone through suffering and death and has come out on the other side. We, too, have an assured hope of coming out on the other side because Jesus has gone before us.

Jesus lifts His eyes to heaven and releases His spirit — it is finished. He has made a way for us to be reconciled to God. Joy awaits all who believe in Him.

Dear Lord, thank You for giving us Jesus and for His willingness to sacrifice Himself. Thank You that He endured the cross so I can come close to You. I hang all my hope on Him because He hung for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.