Jesus suffered death, endured pain, and allowed people to humiliate Him for you! In fact, He is the creator and perfector of our faith. And because of what he did, we are now friends of God. In other words, he restored* our relationship with God.

* KJV: reconciled; to recover or restore God’s favor.

Jesus Suffered Death To Make You Right With God

STM Bible Lesson: Jesus Suffered Death

Lesson focus: Hebrews 12:2. Bible lesson background, Hebrews 12:1-2: Jesus set the perfect example of trusting God. Therefore, we should study his human life experiences, the Gospels—Matthew thru John—to see what he did. So, we can do as he did. On a higher level, he according to Hebrews 2:10, was the perfect savior. Not only that, but our Savior also, according to Hebrews 10:14, made us perfect.

Hebrews 12:2 [read Hebrews 12:1-2 (2)]

Let us look only to Jesus. He is the one who began our faith, and he makes our faith perfect. Jesus suffered death on the cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing. He did this because of the joy that God put before him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne. (ICB)

KJV

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Saved from God’s Anger

Romans 5:9-11 [read Romans 5:6-11 (9-11)]

The blood of Christ has made us right with God. So we are even more sure that Jesus will save us from God’s anger. 10 Once we were God’s enemies. But we have been brought back to him because his Son has died for us. Now that God has brought us back, we are even more secure. We know that we will be saved because Christ lives. 11 And that is not all. We are full of joy in God because of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of him, God has brought us back to himself. (NIRV)

KJV

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

He Took Our Pain and Suffering

Isaiah 53:4-6 [read Isaiah 53:1-12 (4-6)]

Yet it was our grief he bore, our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, for his own sins! 5 But he was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed—and we were healed!** 6 We—every one of us—have strayed away like sheep! We, who left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on him the guilt and sins of every one of us! (TLB)

KJV

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

** “healed” [see By His Stripes We Are Healed Spiritually Not Physically]

1. Barnes – healing from sin; pardon of sin, and restoration to the favor of God.

2. Bible Exposition Commentary – The “healing” in Isaiah 53:5 refers to the forgiveness of sins, not the healing of the body (1 Peter 2:24; Psalms 103:3).

3. J. Vernon McGee – I am going to let Simon Peter interpret this by the inspiration of the Spirit of God. 1 Peter 2:24 says, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” Healed of what? Peter makes it quite clear that we are healed of our trespasses and sins.

To Make You Right With God

Isaiah 53:10-12 [read Isaiah 53:1-12 (10-12)]

But it was the Lord who decided to crush him and make him suffer. The Lord made his life a penalty offering, but he will still see his descendants and live a long life. He will complete the things the Lord wants him to do. 11 “After his soul suffers many things, he will see life and be satisfied. My good servant will make many people right with God; he will carry away their sins.
12 For this reason I will make him a great man among people, and he will share in all things with those who are strong. He willingly gave his life and was treated like a criminal. But he carried away the sins of many people and asked forgiveness for those who sinned.” (NCV)

KJV

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

All Have Sinned

Romans 3:23-26 [read Romans 3:21-26 (23-26); see also Romans 5:9, 16, and 18-19, 10:3-10; 1 Corinthians 1:30 and 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:21]

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.
This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. (NLT)

KJV

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

His Death Made Our Salvation Possible

Galatians 2:17-21 [read Galatians 2:11-21 (17-21)]

When we Jews started looking for a way to please God, we discovered that we are sinners too. Does this mean that Christ is the one who makes us sinners? No, it doesn’t! 18 But if I tear down something and then build it again, I prove that I was wrong at first.
19 It was the Law itself that killed me and freed me from its power, so I could live for God. I have been nailed to the cross with Christ. 20 I have died, but Christ lives in me. And I now live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me.
21 I don’t turn my back on God’s gift of undeserved grace. If we can be acceptable to God by obeying the Law, it was useless for Christ to die. (CEV)

KJV

But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live;
yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Falling from Grace

Galatians 5:4 [read Galatians 5:1-6 (4)]

Some of you are trying to be made right with God by obeying the law. As a result, you’ve been separated from Christ and you’ve fallen away from God’s grace. (RAD)

KJV

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Jesus Suffered Death to Introduce a New Way

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 [read 2 Corinthians 5:12-21 (16-21)]

From this time on we don’t think of anyone as the world thinks of people. It is true that in the past we thought of Christ as the world thinks. But we don’t think that way now. 17 When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new!
18 All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between himself and us. And God gave us the work of bringing people into peace with him.
19 I mean that God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself. In Christ, God did not hold people guilty for their sins. And he gave us this message of peace to tell people.
20 So we have been sent to speak for Christ. It is like God is calling to people through us. We speak for Christ when we beg you to be at peace with God. 21 Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could be right with God. (ERV)

KJV

Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Do you fully understand the suffering of Christ? Of course, most of us know He died on the cross, but what else did He go through for You? Jesus suffered from the time of His birth until He was humiliated on the cross.

Do you appreciate the sacrifice Jesus made for YOU?

He Paid the Price for You

Galatians 3:10-14 [read Galatians 3:10-14]

All who depend on obeying the law are under a curse. It is written, “May everyone who doesn’t continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law be under God’s curse.” (Deuteronomy 27:26) 11 We know that no one who depends on the law is made right with God. This is because “the one who is right with God will live by faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4)
12 The law is not based on faith. In fact, it is just the opposite. It teaches that “the person who does these things will live by them.” (Leviticus 18:5) 13 Christ set us free from the curse of the law. He did it by becoming a curse for us. It is written, “Everyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse.” (Deuteronomy 21:23)
14 Christ Jesus set us free so that the blessing given to Abraham would come to the Gentiles through Christ. He did it so that we might receive the promise of the Holy Spirit. The promised Spirit comes by believing in Christ. (NIRV)

KJV

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Jesus Endured Death for You, Will You Suffer for Him?

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 [read 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 (8-10)]

We’re pressured from every side, but we never get crushed. Sometimes we don’t know which way to turn, but we never give up. 9 People might attack us, but God never abandons us. We can get knocked down, but we’re never knocked out. 10 We always carry around the death of Jesus in our bodies. In that way, the life of Jesus can be shown in our bodies. (RAD)

KJV

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

No one can imagine the humiliation that Jesus went through at the hands of His own created beings (just a statement, not my opinion). Do you understand that Jesus was the creator?*** The apostles went through similar sufferings as Christ, are you willing to suffer for Christ?

***  Please read a few scriptures to help understand the truth: John 1:1-18 (3, 10, and 14); Romans 11:28-36 and Colossians 1:15-20. I will gladly give more scriptures if you would like to study this further.

Suffer for Christ

Philippians 1:29 [read Philippians 1:27-30 (29)]

God has blessed you in ways that serve Christ. He allowed you to believe in Christ. But that is not all. He
has also given you the honor of suffering for Christ [you receive trouble and pain on his behalf].
Both of these bring glory to Christ. (ERV)

KJV

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Jesus, our Lord, suffered in your place. The end result is the opportunity to enjoy the advantages of a healthy relationship with God. Therefore, keep in mind that Jesus suffered death to make you right with God! Thank you for taking the time to read this Bible lesson. Please take full advantage of it. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺

Related studies, lessons, and snacks for further spiritual growth:

Law to Grace; Not Under Law But Under Grace – an estimated 21-minute read.

God Forgives You, To Be Forgiven, You Must Forgive – an estimated 13-minute read.

God Will Forgive You, Now Don’t Worry Be Happy – an estimated 28-minute read.

You Are Forgiven, Wonderful, Go And Sin No More – an estimated 5-minute read.

Freedom from Sin and the Law; Liberty Through Jesus – an estimated 17-minute read.