(by pastor Norman)

How often do we stop to think about all Jesus suffered for us at the end of His life, paying the price for our sins? He was arrested and taken before the leaders of His own people, struck in the face, spat on and mocked (Matt 26:27). The Roman leader, Pilate, had Him scourged with a whip of leather strips loaded with pieces of sharp metal (Matt 27:26). The soldiers then mocked Him, placing a crown of thorns on His head; beating and spitting on Him (Matt 27:26-31). Finally, Jesus was nailed to a cross, (Matt 227:35) and after His death, His side was pierced with a spear (John 19:34). His suffering was prophesied by Isaiah the prophet (Isa 53:1-12). In verse 5 of Isaiah 53 we read, “Christ was wounded for our transgressions He was bruised for our iniquities” (NKJV). The apostle Peter wrote, “He bore our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24a; NKJV) and the apostle Paul wrote, “He (God) made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us” (2 Cor 5:21a; NKJV). Due to Jesus’ suffering for our sins, “His face was so disfigured He seemed hardly human” (Isa 52:14; NLT). As He bore the effects of the sins of the world, Jesus was completely separated from God, “My God, My God why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt 27:46b). However, praise God, what a victory Jesus won for each one of us by His sacrifice: forgiveness (Col1:14), salvation (2 Cor 5:17), righteousness (Rom 5:17), redemption from the effects of sin in our old life (Gal 3: 13-14), healing (1 Peter 2:24), and God’s abundant eternal life for evermore (John 3:16); “praise God”!