The Sinfulness Of Sin - Preach The Word

The Sinfulness Of SinRalph Venning(a) Jesus Christ suffered all kinds of sufferings. It is said that he was tempted in allthings like unto us (Hebrews 4.15), and among other things meant by temptations,sufferings are not the least. He suffered being tempted--he suffered while he lived,but especially a little before and when he died. All his life was a suffering, not tomention his self-denials which were voluntary. He was no sooner born but sufferingcame upon him. He was born in an inn, even a stable; he had only a manger for hiscradle. As soon as his birth was noised abroad, Herod sought his life, so that hissupposed father was forced to flee into Egypt. He was persecuted before he could,after the manner of men, be aware of it, and have understanding of his sufferings.When he returned his sufferings grew up with him. Hunger and thirst, travel andweariness, scorn and reproaches, false accusations and contradictions waited onhim, and he had not where to lay his head. But his special sufferings took placejust before and at his death. Then he suffered in his body and in his soul.1. In his body, which was wounded and crucified, he suffered in bearing his cross,as Isaac, who typified him, did. And he suffered in his body on the cross (1 Peter2.24). He not only suffered unto death but in the manner of his dying: it was ashameful, a painful and an accursed death; indeed, he bled to death. Christ Jesuslost blood several times: at his circumcision, in his agony when he sweat drops andclots of blood, when he was whipped and scourged, when he was nailed to thecross, and probably when they plaited a crown of thorns (the earth's curse) on hishead. And lastly when they thrust the spear into his side, with which he bled outhis life and gave up the ghost.He suffered in every part and member of his body from head to foot. His head,which deserved a better crown than the best in the world, was crowned withthorns, and they smote him on the head. His face suffered being spat upon. Hisback was turned to the smiters, was stripped and whipped; indeed they evenploughed upon his back and made deep and long furrows. His hands and feet werepierced and nailed to the crass. Indeed, he says through the prophet: 'All my bonesare out of joint', as if he had been on the rack (Psalm 22.14). He suffered also inhis senses, his feeling; could he be smitten, wounded, nailed and pierced withoutfeeling? His taste suffered, for instead of strong drink and wine of consolation,which was usual for men ready to die (Proverbs 31.6), they gave him vinegar andgall to drink. His sight suffered, and among other things the sight of his mother andother grieving friends could not but affect his heart (Luke 23.27). It was a grief tohim to see them grieve for him. Did it not afflict him to see his enemies wag theirheads? His hearing suffered many a scoff and jeer, many an ill word andblasphemy. His smell could not but suffer when he came to Golgotha, the place ofskulls, where filthiness and putrefaction lodged, the very stinking sink of the city.But this is not all.2. Christ Jesus suffered in his soul. We read of his sighing and groaning, but let usconsider him especially in his agony and upon the cross. In his agony he began tobe sorrowful and very heavy (Matthew 26.37), for these were but the beginnings ofsorrows. Sorrow is a thing that drinks up our spirits. And he was heavy as if feelinga heavy load upon him. And he is exceeding sorrowful unto death (Matthew 26.38).Sorrowful! Exceeding sorrowful! And unto death! It was such an extremity that itmade him cry out, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass. And this was withstrong cryings and tears (Hebrews 5.7). When he was upon the cross he was under55