Jesus Was Worthy of the Greatest Good, Yet Endured the Greatest Suffering

For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).

Jesus did not have to go to the cross for the privilege of sitting at God’s right hand. That seat was always His. He did nothing to disqualify Himself from being able to claim that seat as His own in His life and ministry. He perfectly lived out God’s law in every way. Because His love to God and love for others was perfect, He was worthy of God’s blessing and was free from the curse of the law. No man has ever been so deserving of good, honor, respect, and praise.

Yet at the same time, no man has ever been so mistreated, so disrespected, and suffered so much. He paid the penalty of sin—death—even though He had no debt to pay of His own. Even though through His life of perfect obedience and submission to His Father showed that He had the Father’s love, He experienced His Father’s wrath for the sins of the world as if they were His own.

When Jesus was on the cross He cried out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). Jesus did not just suffer at the hands of men on the cross, as horrible as that suffering was. He suffered the undiluted wrath of God. That, not the nails made Him cry out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Because Jesus was both worthy of the greatest good, and willing to endure the greatest suffering, that prayer He uttered on the cross is a prayer that no Christian ever need pray again. The promise of Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for You are with me,” is yours because Jesus walked through that valley and was forsaken. If there is one sure description of Christians, it is that they are a people who are never forsaken by God. You can have complete assurance and peace knowing that God will never leave you or forsake you because Jesus prayed a prayer that will never be necessary for any Christian to pray ever again.