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The Sufferings Christ Endured

Part 1

by Samuel E. Ward

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Hebrews 4:15

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.

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Hebrews 2:10-11

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. {11} Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.

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I would like to investigate with you in two parts several of the ways in which Christ endured suffering so that He could indeed be that Perfect High Priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses and intercede for us before the Father’s throne with perfect understanding of our condition.

We begin the first by noticing that . . .

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Jesus Experienced Rejection

A. By His Nation (John 1:11)

(John 1:9-11 NIV) The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. {10} He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. {11} He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

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B. By His Hometown (Luke 4:28-29)

(Luke 4:24-30 NIV) "I tell you the truth," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his hometown. {25} I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. {26} Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon.

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{27} And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed--only Naaman the Syrian." {28} All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. {29} They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. {30} But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

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C. By His Family and Friends (Mark 3:21; John 7:5)

(Mark 3:10-11 NIV) For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. {11} Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." . . . {20} Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat.

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{21} When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." {22} And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebub ! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons."

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(John 7:3-5 NIV) Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. {4} No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." {5} For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

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This is why Jesus’ eyes kept ooking past the rejection and every other suffering He endured up to and including death on the cross.

(Heb 12:2-3 NIV) Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. {3} Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

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Jesus Experienced Ridicule

A. Because of His hometown (John 1:46; John 7:52)

1. "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?“

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(John 1:45-46 NIV) Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." {46} "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip.

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2. “Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee."

(John 7:50-52 NIV) Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, {51} "Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?" {52} They replied, "Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee."

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B. His parentage (John 8:41; John 9:24, 29)

1. They insinuated that He was born illegitimate.

(John 8:41 NIV) [Jesus said to the Jews] “You are doing the things your own father [the devil] does." "We are not illegitimate children," they protested. "The only Father we have is God himself."

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2. They denied His Divinity and Messiahship.

(John 9:24-33 NIV) A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. "Give glory to God, " they said. "We know this man is a sinner . . . {29} We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from."

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{30} The man answered, "Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. {31} We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. {32} Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. {33} If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."

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The medicine you must ask your flock to receive does not always taste good but if done with care and godly purposes, it will bring the healing God wants us all to experience.

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III. Jesus Experienced Attacks from His Enemies

A. Herod Wanted to Destroy Him

(Mat 2:13-16 NIV) When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."

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{14} So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, {15} where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son." {16} When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

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B. His Hometown Wanted to Kill Him

(Luke 4:28-30 NIV) All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard [Jesus speak]. {29} They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. {30} But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

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C. The Jews Wanted Him Dead

1. Because He healed on Sabbath (Luke 6:6-11; John 5:1-16)

(Luke 6:7-11 NIV) The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath.

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{8} But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Get up and stand in front of everyone." So he got up and stood there. {9} Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?" {10} He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He did so, and his hand was completely restored. {11} But they were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

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2. Because He claimed to be equal with God

(John 5:17-18 NIV) Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." {18} For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

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3. Because He preached as one having divine authority to judge all mankind

(Mat 26:1-4 NIV) When Jesus had finished saying all these things [Mat 24, 25: The Olivet Discourse], he said to his disciples, {2} "As you know, the Passover is two days away--and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified." {3} Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, {4} and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him.

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4. Because His popularity was growing and they feared for their positions and more severe Roman dominance

(John 11:47-48 NIV) Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. "What are we accomplishing?" they asked. "Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. {48} If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." . . . {53} So from that day on they plotted to take his life.

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And ultimately, how did Jesus, the captain of ten thousand times ten thousand angels respond ultimately to all of His enemies?

(Rom 5:6-8 NIV) At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. {7} Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. {8} But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

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IV. Jesus Experienced the Betrayal of a Friend

(Mat 26:47-50 NIV) While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. {48} Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him." {49} Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. {50} Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for." Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.

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And should we ever be betrayed and hurt—even killed by a supposed friend, remember the promise of Jesus to His disciples then and now.

(Luke 21:16-19 NIV) You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. {17} All men will hate you because of me. {18} But not a hair of your head will perish. {19} By standing firm you will gain life.

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Should we ever be betrayed and hurt by a supposed friend, remember the promise of Jesus to those who are His disciples then, and now.

(Luke 21:16-19 NIV) You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. {17} All men will hate you because of me. {18} But not a hair of your head will perish. {19} By standing firm you will gain life.