SUFFERING – NEWSPAPER ARTICLE FOR 9/9/20

        There is no doubt that there is a considerable amount of suffering in our world and our nation today.  People have suffered from the corona virus, from violence in our streets and cities, and most recently from a hurricane destroying homes, businesses, and people.  Fortunately, such times of suffering often bring people together as they reach out to those affected by such tragedies.

        “Words from Above” in the Bible tell us Jesus, the Son of God, was actually willing to put Himself in a position where He knew that He would suffer a terrible and excruciating death on a Roman cross.  This was among the cruelest of deaths known to the world at the time, but He submitted to this suffering because of His great love for the people of this world.  Like His heavenly Father, Jesus so loved the world that He gave Himself on the cross so that the people of the world would not have to perish, but that they might have everlasting life.

        Before Jesus was actually crucified, He was scourged with whips which contained spikes or pieces of iron and bone designed to lacerate His body as much as possible.  It was an extremely brutal form of torture intended to make the victim bleed almost to death.  The torture continued when Jesus was forced to carry the cross to the site of execution, and most likely He was whipped along the way.  The intended purpose was to discourage others from committing any crimes against the Roman Empire.

        Once Jesus arrived at the site of crucifixion, He was nailed through His hands and feet and was then suspended on the cross by these nails.  It was designed to make Jesus suffer as long as possible.  Hanging on the cross was a tremendous strain on the wrists, arms, and shoulders, resulting in the dislocation of the shoulder and elbow joints.  Being nailed to the cross in a fixed position made it extremely difficult to exhale and impossible to take a deep breath.  Victims became extremely weak and dehydrated and lost a significant amount of blood, and as time passed, the loss of blood and oxygen caused severe cramping and spasmodic contractions, and caused an increased strain on the heart and eventually causing it to fail.

        Some of the accusers of Jesus suggested that if He were the Son of God, that He would prove it by coming down off the cross.  But He stayed there and suffered for our salvation, and so that our sins could be forgiven.  There are obviously degrees of suffering in the world, but Jesus was willing to suffer a cruel death for the benefit of us all.

Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  For informa-tion, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.