The worst suffering of Jesus Christ on the cross was not physical. After all, as horrific as was the flogging, the beating, and the nails, crucifixion was not uncommon in the Roman Empire. Even as Jesus suffered physically, two other men suffered in the same way on either side of Him. If His physical suffering were the worst part of it, then we would have to conclude that His suffering was not unique.
The true horror of the cross is revealed in those haunting words of Jesus, spoken roughly midway through the six hours, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?” Jesus was being punished for sins, and the just punishment for sins is rejection by God. In fact, it was at just that point that Jesus was suffering Hell. Remember, Hell is not a place, it is the state of being cast away from God, just as much as Heaven is the state of being accepted by and brought near to God.
So, let us be clear. Strictly speaking, no one, not David or Job or you or I, can ever pray the prayer that Jesus prayed then. In this life, God has forsaken no one – ever! – except His Son Jesus on the cross. He has never forsaken you. The words, “why have you forsaken me?” belong in the mouth of our Savior alone.
So, let us not get too overwhelmed with the physical nature of Our Lord’s suffering that we forget that the real suffering was spiritual.
Then Jesus, while yet on the cross, said “I am thirsty”. You can tell from this word that the pains of Hell had been lifted and that the Father had returned to the Son. That is the only way to explain Jesus’ concern for His physical state. After all, who would be concerned with thirst when they are suffering the pains of Hell? Then Jesus said “It is finished.” What was finished? Clearly He doesn’t mean His physical suffering had finished because He was still on the cross. The thing finished was His work of atoning for sins. The Father was satisfied. The price was paid. The world’s guilt was gone. The Father had returned to Him. Our salvation was accomplished already before Jesus breathed His last breath. All that remained was the residual physical discomfort of crucifixion and death, a small thing compared to being forsaken by God.
Finally, Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Let’s make sure to take those words very seriously. Jesus was not simply saying, “Father, I know you’ll take care of me.” He was deliberately committing His human soul into the hands of God, even while He knew that His human body would shortly be committed into the hands of Joseph and Nicodemus. In other words, Jesus died as a Christian. His body went into the ground; His soul returned to God who made it (Ecclesiastes 12:7). The bodies of Christians die, but not their souls. This is why Jesus can say to Martha, “whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.” (John 11:15)
Earlier, Jesus had proclaimed to the repentant thief that they would be together in Paradise that very day. Friday. Not in a few days. Not some symbolic “today.” Both of them would die that day and they would both be together in Paradise on Friday. Their cleansed and perfect souls would be together, in the Father’s hand, immediately at their death.
As is the case with all Christians, that separation of body and soul at death is only temporary. For Jesus it lasted barely 36 hours. Put simply, Easter is the day that the body of Jesus is re-united with His soul. In principle, the resurrection of Jesus is no different than the resurrection of all Christians on the final day, bodies and souls re-united, alive and out of the grave. Forever.
We can learn a lot from the precious words of the Jesus on the cross. Wishing you blessed Lenten-tide mediations, I remain, as always,
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Melius.
