"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." (Hebrews 12:2 KJV)
On our way to Dr. Johnson’s office in my dad’s big Buick, Dad glanced across at me, momentarily diverting his attention from the road and said, "If you promise not to cry, I’ll take you to Hi Lo Burger afterwards and buy you a big, strawberry milkshake."
"OK, Dad." I responded, with a hard swallow. My throat nearly swollen shut by my infected tonsils.
I hated going to the doctor because I always got a penicillin shot for tonsillitis. This was back in the day when they reused the needles and I’m telling you… it hurt! Dad always tried to give me something positive to focus on. He tried to get me to look past the pain to some sort of reward on the other side of the suffering.
As Dr. Johnson had me lay face down on the bed, the white paper made a "krinkly" sound as I scooted down. He pulled down the top of my briefs and inserted the needle into my hip. White hot pain shot through my whole body as my eyes searched for my father’s eyes and my hand searched for his hand.
"Just look at me son, and squeeze my hand as hard as you can." My Dad whispered while leaning close to my ear.
I squeezed as hard as I could and stared into my father’s eyes. In a moment, it was over. As the nurse swabbed some alcohol on and put a Band Aid in place, joy flooded my being. My mind immediately moved to the trip home and the strawberry milkshake that awaited.
"Good job, Son." My father said.
"You’re a brave boy." Dr. Johnson agreed, while offering me a lollipop.
This week as I’ve been reflecting on how Christ suffered for us on the cross, my mind went back to that time in my childhood. Everyone encounters suffering, even children. But it helps when your suffering has purpose. It helps when it is shared and there is someone there to encourage you. And it helps when your suffering has a season to it, with a goal and a reward after its completion.
Jesus suffered for us. He endured the cross as one who despised its shame, yet he overcame it for the "joy that was set before him," that is our salvation.
While my father held my hand and invited my eyes to lock onto his, God the Father averted His from the suffering of His Son. I’m sure the pain was horrendous, but I believe that the worst agony was when His Father turned away. The righteous God could not look on the Son who had become sin for us.
Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"–which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34 NIV)
Suffering entered this world with sin. It is the human condition. Jesus, the Christ, changes this. His suffering means that ours will soon end. In the meantime, it gives our suffering meaning. His willingness to suffer and be separated from the Father for us has resulted in our healing and reconciliation.
Now when I suffer, I reach towards His hand and look for His eyes. Because Jesus knows and He cares and great is His reward to those of us who believe.