The suffering was the Plan
“O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:25, NKJV).
A key demand of Messiah-hood for centuries was/is power. World peace through political power.
Instead, Jesus suffered.
After the resurrection, Jesus reminded the disciples: “Did I not repeatedly tell you all, this was the plan?” (my crude paraphrase of Luke 24:44-46).
The suffering was the Plan.
This is how Jesus was crowned with glory and honor (Heb. 2:9).
- He suffered – to live with us (Matt. 1:21).
- He suffered to live with us and become one of us (Heb. 2:17; 4:15).
- He suffered – to the point of dying (Php. 2:5-8).
- He suffered to the point of dying – undeservedly (1 Pet. 3:18).
- He suffered to the point of an undeserved death – publicly, and shamefully (Heb. 12:1-2).
- He suffered to the point of an undeserved, public and shameful death, as an act of obedience (Lk. 22:42).
Suffering was the Messianic Plan, just as the prophets said.
His suffering restored, redeemed, made peace (Isa. 53:10-11).
His death was the path of life (Acts 2:28).
Those who will suffer with Him, will reign with Him, now, and live forevermore (2 Tim. 2:11-12).
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