Suffering, of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ suffered on behalf of his people, showing both the reality of his human nature, and the extent of his love for humanity. Those sufferings reached their climax in the sufferings of Jesus Christ upon the cross, through which God chose to redeem the world.

The OT foretold Jesus Christ's suffering

NT references to the OT Scriptures

Luke 24:25–26 See also Luke 24:46; Acts 3:18, Acts 17:2–3, Acts 26:22–23; 1 Corinthians 15:3

Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?”

Types and foreshadowings of Jesus Christ's suffering

Genesis 22:2, Genesis 22:8, Genesis 22:13; Exodus 12:22–23; 1 Samuel 19:5; 2 Samuel 16:11–12; 1 Kings 21:15; Psalm 55:12–14, Psalm 57:4; Hebrews 13:11–12

Prophetic statements of Jesus Christ's suffering

Genesis 3:15; Psalm 2:2, Psalm 22:1, Psalm 22:7–8, Psalm 22:12–18, Psalm 69:21; Isaiah 53:3–12

Jesus Christ himself foretold his suffering

Matthew 16:21 parallel Luke 9:22 See also Matthew 17:12 parallel Mark 9:12; Matthew 20:18–19 parallels Mark 10:33–34, Luke 18:31–32; Mark 9:31; Luke 17:25, Luke 20:13–15 compare with Naboth (1Kings chapter 21); Luke 22:15; John 12:27

From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Aspects in Jesus Christ's suffering

The enmity of Satan

Genesis 3:15 Matthew 4:1–3 parallel Luke 4:1–3; Matthew 4:5 parallel Luke 4:9; Matthew 4:8 parallels Luke 4:5, Mark 1:13; Matthew 16:23; Luke 22:3; John 13:27; John 14:30; Revelation 12:4

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

The hatred of the world

John 7:7 See also Matthew 2:13; John 1:10, John 3:20, John 15:18–20; 1 Corinthians 2:8

The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I testify that its works are evil.

Rejection by his own people

John 1:11 See also Isaiah 53:1; Matthew 23:37; Luke 19:41–42, Luke 24:20; John 18:40; Acts 2:36, Acts 3:13, Acts 4:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:14–15

He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

The failure of his disciples

Mark 14:50 parallel Matthew 26:56 See also Matthew 16:22, Matthew 26:40, Matthew 26:74–75; Luke 18:34

Then everyone deserted Him and fled.

Betrayal by Judas

Matthew 26:23 parallels Mark 14:18, Luke 22:21, John 13:21

God's judgment of his Son for the sins of the world

Matthew 27:46 parallel Mark 15:34 See also Psalm 22:1; Isaiah 53:5–6, Isaiah 53:10; Luke 22:42; Romans 3:25–26; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; Hebrews 2:10, Hebrews 2:14; 1 Peter 2:24

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Jesus Christ's willing submission to suffering

Matthew 26:42 parallels Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42 See also Isaiah 53:7, Isaiah 53:11; Luke 23:46; Hebrews 5:7–8, Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 2:23

A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.”