This is Part 6 of 6 parts answering the question, “Who Is The One Person Who Should Have Escaped the Suffering God Allows?” in the larger question, “Why does a loving God allow suffering?”

Jesus Is Our Example and Our Overseer

Additionally, Jesus not only set the example of how we are to live but became the Overseer of our souls. He handled every offense and sin against Him with grace and utter dependence upon the Father by means of the Holy Spirit. In His glorious state, He continues to watch over His sheep and intercede for them, as Peter wrote,

²¹ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ²² “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; ²³ who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; ²⁴ who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness– by whose stripes you were healed. ²⁵ For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Pet. 2:21-25 NKJ)

It was the will of the Father to crucify the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah wrote,

¹⁰ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You 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 the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. (Is. 53:10-11 NKJ)

Jesus should not have had to persevere through any suffering, because He was without sin and therefore innocent. Consequently, He is the one (and only) person who should have escaped suffering.

Discussion Questions:

1) How would you explain to someone that everyone in the human race deserves Divine punishment?

2) In what ways did the Lord Jesus not deserve suffering? What were some of the ways noted in this question that seemed especially “unfair”?

3) Are there times when you feel that the suffering you are working through seems unfair?

4) Is there a cost in the purchase of Redemption? Why do you suppose God chose this method to secure that Redemption?

5) Does it appear to you that many people do not sense the significance of what the Lord Jesus did for the world? Why or why not? How would you help them understand this significance?

¹Luke 4:1,14; 5:17; 6:19; 8:46; Luke 10:38; Heb. 9:14.

²Bailey, Mark, “A Biblical Theology of Suffering in the Gospels,” Why, O God? (Wheaton: Crossroads 2011), p. 164-165.

³Ibid., p. 167-169.