Agony of the Cross
The lesson of this nature is a lesson that teaches how a believer may suffer in course of faith. A believer needs to emulate the life of our dear Savior.
Agony means great pains, suffering or grief. Compare a man who is beaten by robbers who collected his belongings. Dragged him on the street and leaving him half dead.
That’s painful, but he can be treated by the physicians. Our Lord Jesus was in great agony, bruised and wounded.
They did everything they could and nailed him to the cross for our sins. If you were the one that paid this price, only to find out later that the same person you sacrifice yourself for is still enmeshed in sin.
What will be your reaction? May God help us as we learn at the feet of Jesus?
BEHOLD THE BETRAYER (LUKE 22:2 -6, 21 -23, 47 -53, ISAIAH 53:10)
“And the Chief priest and scribe sought how they might kill for they feared the people, then entered Satan into Judas surname Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve…. But Behold, the hold, the hand of him that betrayed me is with me on the table …and while he yet spake, behold a multitude.
And he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, what then and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said unto him.
Judas betrayest thou the son of man with a kiss?” Judas one of the Board of Trustees and the general treasurer of all the people went so far in laying his hand on the Master.
He wanted overnight riches: a greedy carnal and wicked disciple. May God help us not to behave like Judas.
THE WOUNDED MAN: (ISAIAH 53:5, 7, LUKE 22:63-65. MATTHEW 26:67–68)
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities … He was oppressed and he was afflicted.
Yet he opened not his mouth. He is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter, and a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. “And the man that held Jesus mucked him and smote him and they had blindfolded him.
They struck him on the face …. And other things blasphemously speak they against him” This is what the world did to the One who is seated now at the right hand side of God in the heavenly place (Throne) pleading for the sins of the world ever after His suffering (AGONY)
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WOUNDED SAVIOR
1. Innocent lamb (Luke 23:14-15)
2. Uprightness (Luke 23: 31, Matthew 27:19,24)
3. Humbleness (Isaiah 53:7)
4. Purity (Isaiah 53:6)
5. Sorrowful & Acquainted with Grief(Isaiah 53:3)
6. Majority Leader (Luke 23:27)
7. Un-fearful Man (Luke 22:20,23:3)
8. A Forgiver(Luke 23:34)
THE PASSION FOR CHRIST (ISAIAH 53:4, LUKE 23:27, 50-55, PHILIPIANS 3:7-21.COLOSIANS 1:19-29, MATTHEW 10:32-33)
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”(Isaiah 53: 4)
"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ" (Philippians 3: 7-8)
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. “ (Philippians 3: 10-11)
"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3: 14)
“Brethren be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example." (Philippians 3: 17)
“Let us have this passion for Christ that Christ may be glorified in us and press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling”.
God is not a man that He should lie. “As it pleased the Lord to bruise him. He hath put him to grief, when thou shall make his soul an offering for sin. He shall see his seed.
He shall prolong his days and the pleasure of the Lord shall proper in his hands”. So shall we be justified by the righteousness of the Lord.
Abba Elijah also known as elija_god (elijagod)
