So I know this guy who I think is a bit strange. Actually all of us are strange to someone. But I mean really strange. His wife is newly pregnant and he is throwing up in the mornings. I’m watching him to see if he begins bloating. He claims it’s happening because he loves his wife so dearly he feels her pain. I think he’s stumbled upon something better than bringing home flowers. This is free and his wife is loving it. (Why didn’t I think of this?)
Lest I sound too cynical I do have to admit there is a parallel in Scripture. Isaiah 53 very clearly states, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
However, this really isn’t the same. My friend’s pains, while real in his head, are symptomatic. Jesus’ pains for us were more than in His head. Those nails, those beatings, that crown of thorns, the thirst, that triangle of wood trust up between His legs were all actual. In addition, there was the pain in His head of feeling His Father’s withdrawal so He could be alone as He died for our sins. He had to pay the price for our sins and the price for sin is not death with the Father’s comforting presence. And so it was that He cried out, “My God, my God. Why hast thou forsaken me?”
It wasn’t just Jesus who suffered for us. The Father was suffering as much or perhaps even more because He could not comfort Jesus without spoiling the plan of redemption.
Spring Of Life