John 3:16
We will explore more deeply the most quoted verse in the Bible, John 3:16.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
–John 3:16
What is pain? Have you ever hit your finger with a hammer? Have you ever driven your toes into the leg of a bed? Step on a nail? Have a half inch thorn driven into your hand and stay there for weeks, then have someone dig it out? Migraine?
I’ve experienced these pains, and more. And although these experiences were painful, it does not compare to another type of pain others have had to experience.
Now, let’s think about Jesus. He had thorns driven into his head, thrashed many times on the body with a tool designed to rip flesh, nails driven through his feet, and all the other injustices Jesus suffered.
Many of us associate Jesus’ physical suffering on the cross as the primary basis for the forgiveness of our sins. We Christians like to say, “Jesus suffered on the cross for our sins”. It is a common phrase used to justify Jesus’ crucifixion. And although I understand what is trying to be conveyed, it does not go deep enough to appreciate the true sacrifice made for our forgiveness of sins.
Think about those during wartime who were captured and tortured by their enemy. There is a World War II movie named, “Flags of our Fathers”. Although the movie touched on a true aspect of a particular horrendous incident, the movie did not go into details; one has to research the event on their own. A man’s torture occurred over several days at the pleasure of his enemies, and I am going to go so far to say that this man suffered far more physical pain than Jesus.
Therefore, we should not equate Jesus’ suffering as the sole justification for the forgiveness of our sins.
We know Jesus’ authority comes from God. So, regardless of the suffering of Jesus, His crucifixion was not the sole basis for forgiveness, because Jesus already had this authority from God. Remember, Jesus forgave sins before He was crucified. Matthew 9:2 is one example: “Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”
Jesus’ crucifixion was not so much about his pain, although terrible, it does not encapsulate all that is going on. And honestly I am not sure I can fully express it with words. So allow me to try and convey the true justification for the forgiveness of our sins.
God, the father, whose Love is infinite, sent His son to die a human death. He loved His son beyond our comprehension, but yet God willingly allowed his Son to be delivered to His adversary to be physically tortured for pleasure. And the son willingly did the will of the father. Would you be able to go that far with one of your children? Would you, out of love for a stranger who spit in your face, be able to send your child to be tortured by your enemy; and no, you do not get to say, “I’ll go”; you must send a child of yours. And not only send them, but watch and witness with great intimacy the pain and suffering for the pleasure of the torturer.
So although the torture of Jesus was physically brutal, we should not forget this involved God the Father as well; a complete infinite sign of the power of God’s Love. God loved us more than his own son; something we can begin to understand but never fully comprehend. The God who created the universe could have easily avoided this pain for both He and His son, but God did not turn away from us. He loves us so much that he did not turn his back to us. However, He was willing to turn His back to His only begotten son (“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me”) and allowed him to die a terrible death.
And Jesus, not being guilty, could have refused the father’s will (“Not my will but your will”). And we know that Jesus did not refuse the will of the father because of His Love for us as well.
For God so loved us that it extended beyond His love for His son. God gave Evil a far greater prize than human souls; God handed over His one and only child.
Both God and Jesus expressed an infinite amount of Love so that we can overcome the penalty of sin. Jesus is the atonement for all sins; the sins committed prior to His ministry, during His ministry, and afterwards.
The good news is that Jesus, being sinless, was able to get up off the stone slab and walk out the door. And by doing so, Evil was conquered. And by having faith in Christ, we are offered grace and mercy through the love of God; and therefore, we share in the power of Christ to also “get up off the stone slab and walk out the door”.
