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By Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on

As we reflect on the suffering of Jesus may we also celebrate His victory over sin and death.

During the Holy Week we see familiar scenes in television, and even re-enactments that are all about the passion of the Christ – His sufferings and crucifixion.

Jesus actually told His disciples that He will certainly suffer: “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Luke 9:22)

We can notice in this verse the word “must.” It was a certainty that He must suffer. Let me share 6 things why Jesus must SUFFER?

S – Show God’s love for sinners.

“God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

U – Unite all people.

Jesus “has broken down, the dividing wall of hostility…making peace…through the cross” (Ephesians 2:14-16).

F – Fulfillment of prophecies.

Here is a prophecy that took a thousand years to fulfill.

Isaiah prophesied Jesus’ suffering: “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:3, 5).

F – Final sacrifice.

The Old Testament says that “It is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” Hebrews 9:22 affirms that “without the shedding of the blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Jesus had to suffer and die. He is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

E – Eternal security.

Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane – “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). The cup of suffering was drank by Jesus. Jesus did it for our eternal security.

R – Reconcile us back to God.

Jesus removed the barrier between God and people. We are now reconciled back to God through Jesus – “While we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” (Romans 5:10).

The next time we are reminded of the sufferings of Jesus on the cross, let us be thankful that He bore the pain and suffering for our sins and let us rejoice because He has overcome the cross and that he rose to life in the fullness of His glory.