Word for the Day Ministries, Inc.

The Suffering Savior

So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged [Him]. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put [it] on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck Him with their hands. (John 19:1-3 NKJV)

Jesus suffered for us. An angel could not do what was needed. A mere man could not suffer on our behalf. It took the precious blood of the God-Man to satisfy the wrath of God.

For it was fitting for Him, for whom [are] all things and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (Hebrews 2:10 NKJV)

This is a crucial point in the Gospel. Christ suffered on our behalf. To realize fully what that means we need to understand that we deserved to suffer and not Him. The message we preach must include the need for a Savior.

No one needs a Savior unless he has fallen. Unfortunately, most people shy away from the true Gospel because it is not widely received. Those who reject the truth also usually reject the messenger. Sometimes this rejection is harsh and even vindictive. As a result, people either change the message to make it more palatable, or they just stop sharing the message altogether.

We must not allow fear to dissuade us from preaching the truth. Too much is at stake. Rather, let us be able to declare as Paul, And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching [were] not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power (1 Corinthians 2:1-4 NKJV).

This is critical because the wrath of God abides on all who do not believe (John 3:36). Without the truth, men will slip into eternity to suffer for their crimes night without end.

That is why Paul said, But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8 NKJV)

The Word must be preached. It must be preached accurately, and then it must be believed.

If you are a child of God, you are compelled to preach the Gospel because of love. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things [done] in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men . . . (2 Corinthians 5:10-11 NKJV). How can we say we love people, and stand by as they perish without even warning them?

If we then preach, we must preach truth or we deceive ourselves, and others. Do not be guilty of satisfying your seared conscience by preaching half-truths and damnable lies. God will hold you accountable for your selfishness.

Just be faithful and trust God. You don’t have to save people. You simply need to be willing to suffer, if need be, to deliver the truth. God is the One who saves. We just need to sound the alarm so that people know their lives are in danger.