May 22, 2023 – CHRIST

READ: Rom. 5:6-11

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit – 1 Pet. 3:18

Christ Himself has shown evidence that God brought Him to the highest glory after suffering and enduring death on the cross. He was the one righteous, sinless, innocent who never did wrong, but in complete purity and obedience carried out everything according to God’s will. He suffered for our sins. He was put to death “in the flesh,” that is, in his humbled human nature. He bore all this without any complaint or resistance. He did so to bring us to God! 

We did not deserve such mercy, we were unjust! We had distanced ourselves from God through our rebellion and sins. Christ’s suffering cannot, therefore, be compared to our suffering. He humbled himself incomprehensibly by taking on our flesh, the nature of an afflicted human being. And instead of receiving all praise and honor as the Son of God, he was crucified and killed. 

As the unrighteous, we have no right to be treated well, but he brought us back to God through his death on the cross, while we were ungodly and enemies (Rom. 5:8,10). Should we then doubt whether we will receive the promised inheritance when we must suffer a little bit? Let us look to Christ, who has overcome everything for us and now has been given the Name above all names at the right hand of His Father.

He brought us to the Father through His suffering, and He will also bring us to His glory, for He was made alive by the Spirit of God. He has gone before us in His flesh to plead for us (Rom. 8:34) and to draw us to Himself (John 12:32).

How do you see suffering as a sign of God’s love?

Singing: Ps. 22:11