Topical Sermons - Executable Outlines

Why Did Jesus Suffer?
Mark A. Copeland
INTRODUCTION
1. The gospel message is that Jesus died and shed his blood for our sins...
a. According to the Jewish Scriptures - 1 Co 15:3; Isa 53:4-6
b. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins - He 9:22; Ep 1:7
2. Yet it is not unusual to wonder: why couldn’t Jesus have simply died a quick death...?
a. Animal sacrifices were killed with a quick slice of the knife
b. Why did Jesus have to endure the scourging, mocking, and crucifixion?
[Why, then, did Jesus suffer? Before we consider the Biblical response to our question, let’s first note
that His suffering actually included much more than commonly thought...]
I. THE THINGS THAT HE SUFFERED
A. BEFORE HIS PASSION...
1. For thirty-three years He suffered temptation, the daily struggles against sin we endure
- He 4:15; 2:18
2. He experienced rejection by His own hometown - Lk 4:16,28-30
3. There were blasphemous accusations when He was doing good - Lk 11:14-15
4. There was derision by the Pharisees - Lk 16:14
5. There were deceitful questions seeking to ensnare Him - Lk 20:20
6. There was defection by many disciples - Jn 6:60-61,66
7. He endured ridicule by members of his own family - Jn 7:3-5
8. He had to put up with ignorance among the multitudes - Jn 7:40-43
9. There was the anticipation that likely produced anxiety
a. He knew what was coming, told His disciples on three occasions - e.g., Lk 18:31-33
b. The disciples’ lack of comprehension prevented them from being any source of comfort
- Lk 18:34
10. At the Passover meal
a. There were petty quarrels among His disciples - Lk 22:24
b. There were announcements of betrayal, abandonment, denial - Mt 26:21,31,34
-- The indignity of such things was magnified by knowing who He was, yet He humbly
“made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant” - Ph 2:7
B. DURING HIS PASSION...
1. In the Garden of Gethsemane
a. There was the great agony as He prayed - Lk 22:44
b. There was His disciples’ laziness who could not watch with Him - Mk 14:37-41
c. There followed the betrayal with a kiss by Judas - Mk 14:43-46
d. Then He was forsaken by all His disciples - Mk 14:50
e. He was arrested and bound - Jn 18:13
2. Before Annas, father-in-law to Caiaphas the high priest
a. Here Jesus was denied by Peter - Jn 18:17,25-27
b. Jesus was struck with a blow - Jn 18:22
c. He was sent away bound - Jn 18:24
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