A message on Jesus’ Final Hours
Written by Joe Caruso, a member of RAHAB’s Board of Directors
When and where were your worst moments in life? What are some of the worst things you’re aware of that others have had to go through? And where was Jesus when they happened?
I know—easy, light way to jump in. But follow me here for a second – truly, when was the worst?
Was it a long time ago? Something a parent said? Something someone did to you? Something you watched or heard about someone else? Was it being forgotten? Neglected? A season of addiction? Abuse? Was it a failure?
The temptation when we reflect on our worst moments is to wonder “Where was God?”
As I reflected on this question, it got me thinking about when Jesus suffered. For Him, His worst moments in life were likely in his final hours.
Let’s recap:
Jesus went to a celebratory dinner and had to call out His betrayer.
Jesus asked His friends to pray with Him, and they just didn’t get the gravity of what He was going through.
Jesus was wrongly accused, and still, He had to suffer for it.
Jesus was denied by His best friend… three times.
Jesus was mocked, a far cry from leaving His throne in heaven.
Jesus was beaten, and He was hardly recognizable.
Jesus was burdened by the willful rebellion of the entire world and felt the absence of His Father for the very first time.
Can you imagine living in any of these moments? Do you resonate? What if you had to live through stringing them together? I’m not sure I could survive that.
When I really think about the pain and suffering of Jesus’ final hours, the words given to us by the author of Hebrews ring with a passion I will likely never fully grasp.
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (4:14-16).
Jesus gets it. He’s been through the gauntlet. He has seen the full breadth of gravity of negative emotions. He has lived some of the worst experiences of life.
So, my question is this: do we actually realize just how much God not only sees us in our worst moments – in our deepest pain – but He truly feels it with us? His empathy surpasses all that we could ever muster.
Jesus sees that you’ve been hurt by people you thought were close. Dreams you had were shattered.
Jesus sees you when it seems no one else understands what you’ve been through.
Jesus knows you’ve been misunderstood.
Jesus saw you when you were left behind.
Jesus heard the things that were said about you.
Jesus knows you can barely take it.
Jesus sees the weight of your issues, your pain, your addiction, and your brokenness.
And by His stripes, you are healed (Isaiah 53:5). His suffering was for us. Not just for eternity, but for now.
The miracle of Christ is His restoration that all things will be made new, and that He hasn’t just rescued us from the hypothetical pit; because of His life on earth, He knows all too well the pit from which we’re being rescued.
And what about now? What about here and now as I suffer through the worst moments? How do I find the mercy and grace to help us in our time of need? Perhaps we can read through David’s Psalm with a new context. The Lord, the Great Empathizer, the One who sees you… He is our Shepherd. And in Him, we lack nothing.
1
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
3
He refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for His name’s sake.
4
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Psalm 23
Jesus is a Man of sorrows. He weeps over the loss of friends. He is our Wonderful Counselor, our Prince of Peace, and our Mighty God. He calms the storm. His mercies are new every morning.
Whether your worst moments are a distant, but echoing memory, or you feel you’re in them right now, know that Jesus is right there with you. He’s leading you to peace, He will refresh your soul, and even in the valley of the shadow of death, He is with us. Comforting. Guiding. Leading. And His love will be with us for all of our days until we reach the promise of restoration with Him, in His house, forever.
Where is God? He’s right here, empathizing, loving, and redeeming.