Why would Jesus willingly endure such terrible pain?
In Mark 15, Jesus is mocked, abandoned, and nailed to a cross. Even nature grows dark, and Jesus experiences the deep pain of separation from the Father. Yet He is innocent. He chose to suffer because He loves us.
Jesus endured the cross because He looked ahead to the joy beyond it. Through His sacrifice, the temple curtain was torn, opening the way for us to come near to God.
We may sometimes feel that God does not understand our pain. But Jesus knows suffering in ways we can hardly imagine. His pain shows us the depth of His love and the great cost of our salvation.
As we remember what Jesus endured for us, may we respond with gratitude, worship, and wholehearted devotion to our loving Savior.
