Think that I don’t understand you when you struggle in life? Think that I’m clueless when it comes to your pain? Think that I am some distant and cold God who sits in the heavens while you’re having a hard time here on earth? Let’s take a quick look at some of the last days of My life on earth…. I think you’ll see a new side of Me that you never knew before. Maybe you’ll begin to see that I am the One person who can help you the most because I know you the best! Here are some reasons why I am called “The Man of Sorrows who was Acquainted with Grief.”
HAVE YOU BEEN DISAPPOINTED OR FELT DESERTED?
Me too. I had lots of people who said lots of loving words to Me but they quickly changed their tune when times got tough. They adored Me but then denied Me. Huge crowds were chanting praises in a huge parade they threw for Me but just a few days later, those same people wanted Me dead. In just a short time, they were screaming for Me to be crucified and executed! Shouts of “Hosanna” became “Crucify Him!”. They chose to execute Me instead of a convicted felon.
You know the story, right?
Few people think of the last days of My life. They can become the best days of your life…
Ever wonder how people can change their tune and be so fickle and hurtful? They become so cold when they used to be so hot. People tell you that they were your best friends forever and they promise you they will stay by your side forever! You’re their hero and then, you’re a zero. People change their moods and minds about you – even though you did absolutely nothing wrong to them. Someone pretends to care or promised to care but now they don’t. Who in your life falls into that category? I had the same happen to Me! I really do understand that pain and I really do know that feeling. Give that deep hurt to Me…
Some of those people even claimed to be your best buddies (and might have even married you, as well!). Now, he or she turned against you and have become so cold and callous towards you. Hey, I had Peter who said he would literally follow Me anywhere and everywhere and even die for Me. He said he would never ever leave me but then, he deserted Me in My deepest hour. He even denied that he even knew Me in order to save his own skin. Have you ever had that happen to you? They used to be the center of your life and now, they’re no longer in your life! Have you ever had people like this in your life? Maybe even right now? Know that I also experienced the same rejection, desertion, denial, hurt, and betrayal. Give that pain to Me because I understand it better than anyone else in your life. I’m the One who knows you best.
Let’s not forget Judas who betrayed Me with a kiss. Who has kissed you (or much more?) yet betrayed you? Who did you give years of your life to that turned out to be such a waste? Who totally flipped and snapped on you? Who changed into someone so cold and calculating? Who has given you those fake kisses with false motives? I did. I get it. I understand, totally. Who pretended all along when their real motives were only to get something else from you?
Like you, I know that words can be empty and that promises can be many. How many Judas’s and Peter’s have you had in your life where they promised to stand by your side but didn’t? Who is your Peter? Who is your Judas? Name them one by one. Let the list begin and let Me heal each hurt, one by one. Let yourself grieve. I had my Peter deny me in front of others after he promised he would by loyal to Me until death. I do understand broken promises, bitter betrayals, and life-changing lies… even your marriage vows and family dysfunction. We both know how it feels to have someone make promises to you that they never kept. My deepest relationships on earth did that to Me.
My disciples fell asleep on Me while I was weeping and agonizing in My time in Gethsemane. It was My deepest and darkest grief as I wrestled with My Father about going to the cross. Who has really disappointed you in life? Do you have someone like that in your life? You really needed someone there for you and they weren’t? I lived that pain too. Either or both of your parents? Your kids? Your brother or sister? Your spouse? Your friends? Who abandoned you? I know that feeling. Talk with Me about how you felt and what they did or didn’t do.
HAVE YOU BEEN DEGRADED OR FELT DIRTY?
I was mistreated worse than anyone in history. Though I had done nothing wrong and lived a perfect life, I was treated like dirt before I died. You would think that court would be a place of justice and safety, but it was just the opposite for Me. I was laughed at and mocked. I was beat up. I was slapped. I was spit upon. I was forcibly stripped of all my clothes and left naked in front of them, I was physically tortured, sexually violated, and publicly humiliated. Do you ever think of Me this way? I had loud cries and tears, just like you do. I understand how you felt when you were sexually assaulted, abused, raped, and/or molested. People may tell you that they understand but they don’t. Yes, I understand exactly how you felt then and feel now! How utterly embarrassing and wrong to be so vulnerable and dishonored!
I endured the physical pain and the emotional shame of the cross. I also understand the physical pain and the emotional shame you may be feeling right now. I know how it feels to hurt all over. I know how it feels to have people gossip about you when you didn’t do it. I know how it feels to have things done to you that ought not to have been done. You didn’t deserve it. You can’t undo it. It seems they got away with it completely. Now, you feel dirty and disgusted when it was not your fault. Your life has changed.
HAVE YOU BEEN DEPRESSED OR FELT DEVASTATED?
My soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Read that again in Matthew 26:38. To the point of death…. Most people miss that phrase, but I hope you remember it now. For the first time in all eternity, I was going to become sin and lose fellowship with My Father. This was uncharted territory to Me. For the first time ever, I was going to be ugly where He was about to turn His face away from Me. No words can describe the pain I was about to endure. I was overtaken with sadness and fear. My depression was severe and to the point of death. I didn’t want to die, at first. I didn’t want to lose My Daddy. I didn’t want to go there by Myself. That pain in the Garden was overpowering Me and I sweat drops of blood in My agony. Where would I go? What would happen to Me? I felt so alone and forsaken and abandoned for the very first time in My eternal existence. What was it going to be like? I was scared and alone.
Again, no words can describe what I went through as I became sin in front of my Father and Spirit. Why have You forsaken Me? Why? Where did my daddy go - with whom I have spent all eternity? Nothing you experience in life will ever come close to the pain that I felt on the cross. I have gone to the lowest depths imaginable in terms of sorrow, sadness, depression, and fear. So, I can help you when you go there. Don’t think that I’m mad at you when you feel those emotions. People might tell you that you’re not trusting God if you go there. I was there… I sympathize with you more than any therapist, parent, friend, pastor, counselor – anyone. Nothing you experience in life is beyond My understanding or mercy. When you go deep, I go deeper. I’m there with you, all the way. I can handle anything that you give Me because I handled far worse, Myself. I’ll give you the strength and power that you need to heal. Promise. Your pain of being forsaken or abandoned – I know that feeling. I was left in the darkness to die, thick darkness surrounded the land, I died alone in the dark. I did not suffer for Myself but in your place. I am not here to make you feel sorry for Me but to bring you closer to Me! I invite you to cast all your worries and anxieties upon Me. Cast all your anxieties upon Me because I care for you. Your hurts are deep but my healing goes deeper. I am gentle and you will find that rest for your soul. Come with your burdens. I get it. Come to Me if you are depressed to the point of death. Come to Me when you feel disappointed in life and with people who have deserted you. Maybe it was divorce and maybe it was deceit and then, maybe it was by death. I will give you the rest that you so desperately need. Not only will I give you peace, but I’ll also give you the strength you need. You need new grace and power. I’ll give you the wisdom that you need. I’ve got all that you need. You might be thinking that death would be the only way to escape this pain that you now feel. I was there, too. And now in Glory, I am close to the broken hearted and to the suicidal and to those who feel helpless and hopeless You may think that no one understands but hopefully, you now know that I am the One who most understands the kind of despair you feel in life. I plead with you - give it to Me. I understand your sorrow that is strong enough to the point of death. I felt it a few times in the hours before My death with only My father to talk to. Everyone left Me. Is your grief that strong? Is your exhaustion that deep? Is your rage that intense at what’s been done? Maybe you’re so confused that you don’t know who to trust and you just want to end it now? Let Me come alongside of you to comfort and strengthen you. Tell me everything. I was there when it happened in the past and I’ll be there in the future when it happens again. - JESUS