Journal: Journal of Dispensational Theology
Volume: JODT 28:77 (Autumn 2024)
Article: The Suffering, Crucifixion, And Death Of Christ
Author: Steven R. Cook

JODT 28:77 (Autumn 2024) p. 153

The Suffering, Crucifixion, And Death Of Christ

Steven R. Cook

* Steven R. Cook, M.Div., D.Min., formerly advising professor, Tyndale Theological Seminary & Biblical Institute

When God the Son added perfect humanity to himself, this enabled Him to experience suffering and death with, and on behalf of, humanity. The suffering of Christ may be viewed in at least two ways: (1) his suffering during his time on earth prior to the cross; and (2) the suffering of the cross. As the God-Man, Jesus was perfectly holy in all his thoughts, words, and actions. Christ’s perfect holiness brought with it a special form of suffering in this world that the rest of humanity could never know, since none are incapable of yielding to the pressures of sinful temptation. When the time of his death was nearing, Jesus told his disciples “that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day” (Matt 16:21; cf. Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22). Worthy of note is that Jesus said his suffering, dying, and resurrection were things that “must” happen to Him. The use of the Greek verb dei (δεῖ) there denotes divine necessity, which meant it was the will of God the Father that these things happen to Christ. Thomas Constable noted, “Jesus said that it was necessary (Gr. dei) for Him to go to Jerusalem. He had to do this because it was God’s will for Messiah to suffer, die, and rise from the dead. He had to do these things to fulfill prophecy (Isa 53; cf. Acts 2:22–36).”1 The absolute necessity of Jesus’ death on the cross further emphasizes humanity’s helplessness to procure salvation, for if redemption could have been secured by any other means, then the death of Christ would have been unnecessary.

While in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed to God the Father, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matt 26:39). In his humanity, Jesus struggled to endure the cross, understanding the scope of what it meant and the agony associated with it. Jesus prayed a second time, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done” (v. 42). The reference

JODT 28:77 (Autumn 2024) p. 154

to the “cup” speaks of the suffering...