Why Did Christ Come Into the World?
The sufferings of Christ stand at the very heart of the Christian faith, unveiling the depth of God’s love and the fulfillment of His eternal Word. Jesus Christ, as the Word made flesh, entered the world to complete God’s plan of salvation. His sufferings were not a mere tragic twist but a deliberate fulfillment of God’s promises, revealed throughout Scripture.
The apostle Paul states clearly in 1 Timothy 1:15:
“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”
Jesus came to seek and save the lost, to rescue sinners from the weight of condemnation and to offer them new life in Him. His mission was mercy, His path was suffering, and His goal was our redemption.
What Prompted God to Give His Son?
The reason for God sending His Son lies in His boundless love. As John 3:16 declares:
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
This divine act was not merely emotional; it was intentional. God’s love moved Him to provide a way of reconciliation, a way that satisfied both His justice and mercy. The Son, whom He gave, was not a separate divine person but God Himself in flesh.
Scripture consistently affirms God’s singular identity as Savior:
“I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.” (Isaiah 43:11)
“There is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.” (Isaiah 45:21)
“God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself…” (2 Corinthians 5:19)
The gift of the Son was the manifestation of God’s Word, His eternal promise, made flesh in Jesus Christ (John 1:14). In giving His Son, God gave Himself. This was not just a fulfillment of prophecy, but the clearest expression of divine love. It was love that moved the eternal God to step into time, to bear our sins, and to open the way to life.
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
The Prophecies of Christ’s Sufferings
Long before Christ walked the earth, the prophets foretold His sufferings. Isaiah 53:7–8 paints a vivid picture:
“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter… for the transgression of my people was he stricken.”
These sufferings were not unexpected. They were the fulfillment of God’s Word. Jesus, the Lamb of God, bore the sins of the world. He remained silent, not out of powerlessness, but out of obedience. His silence was strength, and His suffering had a purpose: to restore humanity to God.
The prophet Isaiah reveals the depth of God’s redemptive purpose:
“Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief…” (Isaiah 53:10)
This was the will of God, not because He delighted in pain, but because through the bruising of the Son, salvation would be made available to all. Christ’s wounds were the price of our healing. His sorrow was the path to our joy. His death was the doorway to eternal life.
Christ’s Foreknowledge of His Sufferings
Jesus knew what awaited Him. As He journeyed toward the cross, He made this clear to His disciples, as recorded in Luke 18:31-33:
“Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.”
Jesus came with full knowledge of His purpose, knowing He would be betrayed, mocked, scourged, and crucified. He embraced His purpose, understanding that God’s Word would be fulfilled through His sufferings.
The Agony of Gethsemane: Bearing the Weight of Sin
As the time of His crucifixion drew near, the weight of the world’s sin pressed heavily upon Jesus. In Matthew 26:38–39, we hear the anguish of His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane:
“My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death… O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
In this moment, Jesus bore not just physical anticipation, but the full spiritual burden of humanity’s guilt. Luke captures the intensity of His suffering with vivid detail:
“And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.” (Luke 22:44)
This was no ordinary grief. It was the deep travail of God in flesh, preparing to redeem His creation through obedience and sacrifice.
Betrayal and Denial: The Depth of Christ’s Suffering
The sorrow Jesus bore was not limited to physical torment. It reached into the realm of intimate human betrayal. One of His own disciples, Judas, betrayed Him with a sign of affection:
“But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48)
What was meant to be a gesture of closeness became the mark of treachery. Yet even this moment was within the scope of God’s divine plan. Jesus knew that betrayal was part of the path that would lead to the cross.
Adding to this sorrow was Peter’s denial. Though once bold in his devotion, Peter distanced himself in fear when confronted. After the rooster crowed, Luke records the piercing moment:
“And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord… And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.” (Luke 22:61–62)
Jesus experienced the pain of abandonment by those closest to Him. Still, He endured it with unwavering resolve, fully aware that these events were necessary to fulfill the Scriptures. His suffering was not only physical but also relational and spiritual, a complete offering of Himself for our redemption.
The Mocking, Scourging, and Crucifixion
The intensity of Christ’s suffering grew as He was handed over to be mocked, scourged, and ultimately crucified. Soldiers placed a crown of thorns upon His head, clothed Him in a robe, and struck Him while sarcastically hailing Him as King (Matthew 27:28–29). Their cruelty fulfilled what had been foretold in the Scriptures:
“I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.” (Isaiah 50:6)
Jesus, the Word made flesh, endured this humiliation with divine restraint. He was scourged until His body was torn, then led to Golgotha where He was nailed to the cross and lifted up before the crowd.
Even in His greatest agony, Jesus remained full of grace. As blood flowed from His body, mercy flowed from His lips:
“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
In that moment, Jesus revealed the very heart of the Father. This was the embodiment of what God had spoken through the prophet Hosea:
“For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6)
God did not take pleasure in the shedding of blood for its own sake. What He longed for was mercy, mercy now fully revealed in Christ. The cross was not only the place of sacrifice. It was the place where God’s mercy triumphed over judgment, and His heart was fully displayed in the Son He gave.
The Final Moments: Darkness and the Cross
As Jesus hung on the cross, bearing the sins of the world, darkness fell across the land. Luke 23:44–45 records:
“And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.”
This was not a mere cosmic event. The darkness signified the weight of sin and judgment, but it also prepared the way for the revelation of Light. The tearing of the temple veil marked the removal of the barrier between God and humanity. Through Christ’s sacrifice, access to the presence of God was made possible.
Isaiah had foretold this moment of victory:
“He will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people… He will swallow up death in victory.” (Isaiah 25:7–8)
In the midst of darkness, the true Light was revealed. Jesus, the Light of the world (John 8:12), overcame the shadow of death. The veil was torn, the covering removed, and the glory of God unveiled through the crucified Christ. What was once hidden was now made manifest, and through Him, all who believe may walk in the light of life.
The Fulfillment of God’s Promise: “It Is Finished”
At the moment of His death, Jesus declared:
“It is finished.” (John 19:30)
These were not words of despair, but a triumphant cry. In that moment, the mission for which Christ came was fully accomplished. Every prophecy spoken, every shadow in the Law, and every promise made by God throughout the ages had reached its fulfillment in the Son.
He bore the weight of sin, satisfied divine justice, and opened the way for reconciliation between God and humanity. What Adam lost in the garden, Christ restored on the cross. The veil was torn, the curse was broken, and death began to lose its power. Heaven and earth stood still as the eternal Word fulfilled the will of the Father in full.
God’s Word did not return void. It accomplished what He sent it to do (Isaiah 55:11), sealed with the blood of the spotless Lamb.
“But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God.” (Hebrews 10:12)
This does not speak of a literal throne beside another, but of the place of divine authority and exaltation. Jesus, the Word made flesh, is the visible manifestation of God’s right hand, the power and salvation of the Almighty revealed to the world.
“Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.” (Exodus 15:6)
“The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” (Psalm 110:1)
Christ now reigns in that position of power, having accomplished the eternal purpose of God. “It is finished” is not the end. It is the unveiling of the victory of God’s right hand, extended in love, pierced for our transgressions, and forever alive in glory.
The Purpose of Christ’s Sufferings
The sufferings of Jesus were not accidental. They were essential to the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. The writer of Hebrews explains:
“For it became Him… in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” (Hebrews 2:10)
Through His sufferings, Jesus became the perfect sacrifice. He entered fully into the human condition, bearing our griefs and carrying our sorrows. In doing so, He opened the way for reconciliation between God and humanity. His pain was not in vain. It was the path to glory, both for Himself and for all who would pick up their cross and follow Him.
The Word Fulfilled; the Promise Accomplished
The sufferings of Christ are a powerful reminder that God’s Word is true, and His promises never fail. From the prophecies of the Old Testament to their fulfillment in Jesus, God’s plan of salvation was always at work.
Through His death, Jesus made a way for us to be reconciled to God. His final words, “It is finished,” declare that the work is complete. The Word of God has accomplished its purpose, and through Christ, we have access to eternal life.
Let us also hold firmly to the promises of God, trusting that His Word is faithful and His purpose will always be fulfilled in our lives.
“For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)
In Christ, every promise finds its fulfillment. In Him, every Word spoken by God becomes life, truth, and victory.
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