Jesus suffered for us - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

From that time Jesus began to show to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priest and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
Matthew 16:21.

Jesus suffered for us
The time was approaching for Jesus to be crucified. He met with increasing suffering and solitude and had to bear the animosity and hatred of men alone. There were indeed a few voices raised to support Him: "Truly this is the Prophet" or "This is the Christ" (John 7:41.42). Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish council, attempted to defend Him. But such voices were brushed aside, and Jesus remained alone. He was betrayed by one disciple, denied by another, then abandoned by all. He had known this beforehand: "You will leave me alone" (John 16:32). When He was judged by the Jewish leaders, then by Pilate before the crucifixion, there was none to speak for Him or defend His cause.

What went on in the Lord's soul is revealed in various words from the psalms: "Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness; I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none." "Trouble is near; for there is none to help." "Refuge has failed me; no-one cares for my soul" (Psalm 69:20; 22:11; 142:4). He could rely only on His God and Father (cf. John 16:32).

On the cross Jesus had to exclaim, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34). He was abandoned by God because He was laden with the sin of the human race, even the sins of those who believed in Him. Can such suffering leave us indifferent and unfeeling?

He endured all this to bring us salvation.

Today's reading: Jeremiah 12:1-17 · Luke 22:31-38