The hardships which Jesus endured during His life here on earth are more than most of us could even imagine. He was born during a time and in a place where it was difficult simply to live day to day, where one's subsistence was hard to come by, and even more difficult to maintain. One aspect of this, however, which often goes unnoticed, is the fact that Jesus chose to be born at that time, and in that place. We need to understand that time is an invention of man, and that God is not bound by its constraints. So, whether Jesus was born over 2000 years ago, or just 50 years ago, would have no bearing on the monumental impact of His sacrifice. The fact is, He chose to be born during a very difficult period in history, and in a relatively desolate environment, under harsh conditions, because it was only through His suffering that our atonement would be purchased. Jesus chose to rise above His surroundings.
At the beginning of His public ministry, immediately following His baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted directly by Satan.
Nearing the end of His ministry here on earth, Jesus comes to the Mount of Olives, to the Garden of Gethsemane, to pray, as we read in Matthew 26:37-39..."...he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." His sorrow was so intense that Luke tells us in chapter 22:44..."And being in agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." Immediately following, Judas, one of Jesus' own disciples, arrived with soldiers to betray Jesus to the Romans. We read in Matthew 26:47-50..."And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him." Jesus chose to rise above sorrow and betrayal.
At this point, Jesus was given a mock trial, and the Jewish leaders demanded His crucifixion. He was delivered to the Roman soldiers, who mocked Him, spit upon Him, drove a crown of thorns into His brow, and scourged Him, beating Him unmercifully. He was then crucified, with nails driven through His hands and feet, and left to die an agonizing death. One of the factors which often goes unnoticed is the fact that Jesus was in control of all of these things, and had the power to stop it all at any time. He tells Peter in Matthew 26:53-54..."Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" This gives us a bit of an insight into the incredible self-control which Jesus possessed. What phenomenal poise and restraint it must have required to allow your own creation to betray you, to mock you, to execute you! To hold your peace as those whose very lives are held in the palm of your hand beat you, spit upon you, and crucify you! And then, as Jesus hung there, on the cross, He looked down upon the crowd, mocking him, so hungry for His death, and with pity, He prayed for them as He was dying, as we read in Luke 23:34..."...Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do..." Jesus chose to rise above natural human emotion and agonizing physical pain.
Jesus was then buried in a new tomb, His body wrapped in linen. For three days, the disciples were in mourning, not knowing what was next for them. But on the morning of the third day, Jesus arose from the dead, first appearing to Mary, and then to the disciples, and He walked the earth for 40 days until He ascended into heaven. He did not have to rise, it was by his own volition, of His own free will, just as the temptations, the persecutions, the hardships and His crucifixion had all been by His own choice. If Jesus did not have the unfathomable love for mankind which He possesses, He could have chosen not to rise again, and we would then be left to our own destruction, and without hope. He told His disciples..."...I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again..." and He tells us in John 15:13..."Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." So we see that it was because of His great love that He was willing to lay down His life, and because of His love that He rose again, securing salvation for all who would believe on Him. Jesus chose to rise from the dead.
Throughout His life and His ministry, through His teachings, and His healing, in spite of temptation and persecution, Jesus chose to rise. As His time drew near, despite His sorrow, the betrayal of Judas, and the torture of the Roman soldiers, Jesus chose to rise. On the cross, through agonizing pain and sadness, He took our sins upon Himself and was forsaken, He died and was buried, and the third day, Jesus chose to rise.
No matter what we may be going through in this life, we can know that we have a Savior who has been through it all, and who loves us unconditionally, in spite of ourselves. When we are tempted, or persecuted, betrayed, or forsaken, we need to lean on the One who truly understands. We must put our faith, and our confidence, in the One who will never leave us or forsake us, and choose, as He did, to rise above our circumstances, always bearing in mind that, through it all, Jesus chose to rise.
