A Suffering Savior - Greg Laurie Devotion - April 14, 2022
Thursday, April 14, 2022
A Suffering Savior
“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted” (Isaiah 53:4 NKJV).
Why did Jesus have to suffer as He did? We understand that He had to be nailed to a cross because the Bible prophesied this. But why did He suffer?
We follow a suffering Savior. In fact, Isaiah 53 gives this description of what Christ went through: “He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; . . . Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted” (Isaiah 53:3-4 NKJV).
Then Isaiah gives us the reason Jesus suffered: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5 NKJV).
You see, Jesus voluntarily suffered in our place. It’s hard for us to think of a perfect Creator going through something as human as pain and suffering. But God has suffered more deeply than anyone could imagine. That’s why the Bible calls Jesus a “Man of sorrows.” He suffered because He loves us.
This also means that He can enter into your suffering as well. Maybe you’re in a state of personal anguish today. There’s something that is causing you a great deal of pain. Jesus has been there. He has walked in your shoes.
Hebrews 2:17 tells us, “It was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people” (NLT).
Don't think that God is disconnected from what you’re facing. Jesus has faced it. He has experienced it. He understands. You’re not alone in your suffering today.
Copyright © 2022 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org
and
Listen to Greg Laurie's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com and weekly podcast on LifeAudio.com.
Watch Greg Laurie's weekly television broadcast on LightSource.com.
Now available on DVD, House of David is a cinematic retelling of one of the Bible’s most compelling stories. With stunning visuals and bold storytelling, this series follows David’s journey from shepherd to king. Great for family viewing, small groups, or as a gospel-centered gift. Request the complete Season 1 DVD set with your donation today.
