What Jesus Really Suffered for Us

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As a Christian, I was brought up hearing the story of the crucifixion. We develop a picture in our minds of what this may have been like for Jesus. However, we never could fully understand what Jesus suffered for us. His suffering was much greater that we can fathom. He didn't have to do this. He owes us nothing. As a matter of fact, this is what we should suffer because of our disobedience and disregard of Him. Then I read from an article ( https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/403315) and watched a video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxvRgvYc7A4) and realized there was so much more to Jesus' sacrifice. Crucifixion was a process meant to instill excruciating pain, creating a slow and agonizing death. Nails as long as 8 inches were driven into Jesus' wrists & feet. The Roman soldiers knew the tendon in the wrists would tear & break, forcing Jesus to use His back muscles to support Himself to breathe. Jesus endured this reality for 3 hours! Scientists explain that from hypovolemic shock, the rapid heartrate causes fluid to gather in the sack around the lungs & heart. The gathering of fluid in the membrane around the heart is called Pericardial effusion & the lungs, Pleural effusion. This came as a result of His side being pierced with a spear. Jesus endured whipping so severe that it tore the flesh from His body. He was beaten so horrific that His face was torn & His beard ripped. A crown of thorns, 2-3 inches long cut deeply into His scalp. The leather whip used to flog Him had tiny iron balls & sharp bones. The balls caused internal injuries while the sharp bones ripped open His flesh. His skeletal muscles, veins, & bowels we're exposed, causing major blood loss. He was flogged and had to carry His own cross up Calvary's hill. People spat on Him and jeered at Him the whole way. His robe was stripped from Him, and He was crucified naked to completely humiliate Him while Roman soldiers gambled for His clothing at the foot of the cross. He did not have to endure this. He could have spoken a word, stopped it all, brought judgement on those bringing about His torture. But He didn't. He chose this horrific death to redeem you and me, to appease God's wrath because of our disgusting sin. After reading the above article, it got me to thinking: We act like He owes us something more. We complain about what He hasn't done. We are ungrateful for the lives He has given us. We act as if we should not be required to seek His guidance and direction. We love sin, our own agendas, and every shallow relationship more than Him. We act as if we can't trust Him if we surrender our all to Him. We are dumber than sheep. Thinking of how I have neglected and disobeyed Him, I am disgusted with myself. Yet, He loves me and wants me to experience His love. There are no words to express the mercy and grace He has given me. photo credit: semantic scholar