The Love and Sorrow of Christ

My Devotion to Him #322

1. Jesus, a Man despised and rejected.

Jesus Christ demonstrated a love for all humanity that will be unparalleled for all eternity. Our Savior and Lord loved and died for us despite everything He endured: suffering, rejection, loneliness, and sorrow.

Verse Passage: Isaiah 53:3-9 “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.” – ESV

Verse Passage: Matthew 26:55-56 “At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.” – ESV

Verse Passage: Matthew 26:67-68 “Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?” – ESV

Isaiah would foretell what Christ would endure during His lifetime. The Gospels seamlessly walk us through the exact suffering, nonacceptance, and sorrow. He would be ridiculed, bashed, spat on, abused, and humiliated for the world to see. A Man who had done no wrong, shown no violence, never lied, backstabbed, gossiped, or anything else suffered the most ferocious and inhumane death.

2. Jesus, a Man of compassion.

Verse Passage: John 11:33-35 “When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?” – ESV

Verse Passage: Luke 18:35-42 “As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.” – ESV

I am only using two passages here to reflect on Christ’s life, which is not enough to capture who He was and is today truly. Jesus was and is full of compassion for all. This compassion wasn’t only reserved for people close to Him. He would extend his remarkable self to those who were poor, oppressed, and afflicted. He never asked for compensation, but merely it was His nature. He did not refuse to heal because someone wasn’t financially set. There wasn’t a subscription plan that people had to sign up for to watch His sermons, and He did not seek out big endorsement deals to validate His truth.

3. Sin is not the end.

Verse Passage: Genesis 3:13 “Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” – ESV

Sin made its way into humanity, not in its own way but through our own decisions. Every day, we have a choice, and every day, we may be faced with many opportunities to decide what we will do. Will sin continue to be a part of our life or not? This does not mean we don’t stumble and struggle. But will we make the willful and continuous decision to sin blatantly? Eve broke the separation, and now that constant decision is with us, waiting every day to see what we will do.
This would not be the end for us. Eve’s decision would cause trouble for humanity, but the story does not have to end there, and it certainly doesn’t have to be our demise. Christ would come to this world through a woman. He would die for all people and their sins. Jesus gives us the opportunity to have everlasting life through Him upon rising from the dead and ascending to Heaven. This gift is another example of His great love for you and me. A gift that is for all who repent and decide to follow after Him.

4. Jesus, the One for us.

Verse Passage: Hebrews 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – ESV

The One who was tempted can easily relate to us and understand what we are going through daily. This should give us confidence in Him and come to Him with courage, knowing He was also tempted.

5. Jesus carried the sorrow of “loneliness.”

Verse Passage: 26:35-41 “Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same. Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” – ESV

Verse Passage: Luke 2:46-50 “After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.” – ESV

Verse Passage: John 19:25-27 “but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” – ESV

The disciples didn’t stay awake even when He asked; His parents did not fully understand His purpose, He hung on the cross alone.
His allies, friends, and family were free from the brutality up to that point; He would die alone while they would live on. Jesus carried loneliness with Him up till death. No one fully comprehending Him or willing to go the exact distance up to the end of His life. Yet, Christ endured, continued, and would not stop sharing His love and mentoring those around Him.

6. His love for mankind was never repaid in kind.

Verse Passage: Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” – ESV

Verse Passage: Isaiah 53:2 “For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.” – ESV

The love that Jesus would show till His last day would never fully be returned to Him to the same degree. Of course, many loved Him and showed Him love, but the extensive amount He would show could never be reciprocated.
Can we make it our life’s mission to love Him like He has loved us? To attempt to be half the Man He was? Jesus suffered while being rejected and full of sorrow, yet He was and still is in love with us. For someone to show that much care, concern, and willingness to go the distance for us, is it enough that we might also fall in love with Him because of Him?

God Bless.

Copyright © 2023 by Jacob Olinger