In the dark of night, you’re strolling through the garden, lit only by the moon and the stars. Ahead you see some kind of lump on the ground…What is that? A boulder? A shadow? A bush? Drawing closer, you see the dark shape move. It’s a man, and he seems to be in great distress!

Not sure what might be going on, you stay in the shadows, watching. As you stand there, the man throws himself face down onto the ground. Then, after a bit, he lifts his head, and the moonlight shows you his tear-streaked face.

The night sounds are split by moans, and you realize that the man is speaking, but there’s no one there but you, and he hasn’t noticed you. Who’s he talking to, and what’s this that he’s saying? Something about a cup?

Wait a minute! You recognize this man…it’s the Galilean, the one who, just days ago, you saw riding into town on a donkey. People were cheering him and shouting “Hosanna!” The talk in the crowd was that this man Jesus is the Jews’ long-awaited king. Well, he doesn’t look much like a king right now.

Drawing closer, you notice that his robe is filthy from his lying in the dirt. His hair hangs limp and wet with perspiration, and the sweat on his face is an odd dark color. What is that? Is it blood?! What can be wrong with this man? Obviously, he’s in agony. Is he sick? Maybe you shouldn’t get too close. You certainly don’t want to catch whatever he has…and besides, whatever is wrong with him, it’s not easy to watch, and you’d just rather not get involved. So you withdraw farther into the shadows and silently you slip away….

Hmm…that’s sort of how we are sometimes when it comes to the “suffering” part of the Easter story, I think. Intellectually, we know that Jesus suffered, but we shy away from looking at that suffering head on. The Mel Gibson movie The Passion of the Christ that came out several years ago portrayed Jesus’ suffering quite graphically, and many people who watched that movie were profoundly affected by it. Perhaps for the first time, many viewers thought about the horror of Jesus’ suffering and death.

From the anticipation of what was to come, to the reality of the betrayals and beatings and the ultimate agony of death on the cross ─ Jesus, God’s own Son, took upon His body and soul the entire load of sin and evil from all mankind…Oh, yes, he suffered!

His agony and death were certainly not a pretty sight, and yet, through them, we have forgiveness, the most beautiful gift ever given.

And the wonder is this: He did it all for you and for me.

Author: Kay Bradburn