Jesustrek

It’s difficult to try to understand the full scope of the suffering Jesus experienced when he died on the cross to pay for the sins of mankind. Dr. Jack Cottrell, professor of Theology at Cincinnati Christian University, explains it this way: “If Christ actually took our place in bearing the wrath of God, this means that he bore the full force of God’s wrath; he suffered the equivalent of eternity in hell for every sinner.”

That’s an amazing statement! We have to keep in mind that Jesus’ suffering was not limited to the physical pain he endured on the cross, as excruciating as that was. His spiritual suffering must have been much greater than his physical suffering. For Someone who knew no sin to have to bear the punishment of every sinner who would ever live…well, that is unimaginable pain!

Dr. Cottrell also says, “The finite suffering of an infinite being would seem to be equivalent to the infinite suffering of finite beings. This is one of the main reasons why the atonement could be accomplished only by God himself and not by any creature, whether man or angel.”

The more we come to understand the depth of Jesus’ suffering, the more we should want to devote ourselves completely to him!

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”—2 Corinthians 9:15.