Jesus’ physical pain was far greater than anything most of us will ever be called upon to endure; crucifixion was widely seen as the cruelest method of execution. And His emotional and mental suffering must have been just as intense. The Bible says, “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering” (Isaiah 53:3).

But far greater than either of these was Christ’s spiritual suffering because all the sins of the world were placed on Him, and He endured the punishment and Hell we deserve. He was the divine Son of God, and from all eternity He had known nothing but unbroken fellowship with His Father. But on the cross that fellowship was broken. No wonder He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34).

Don’t ever take lightly what it cost Jesus Christ to purchase your salvation. His physical and emotional sufferings were only indications of a far deeper suffering—the suffering of His soul for you and me.

Why did He do it? He did it for one reason: because He loves us. We don’t deserve it, but He loves us anyway. The Bible says, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10). Have you responded to His love by giving your life to Him?