When I decided to share a few thoughts about our Lord’s suffering on Calvary, in addition to His physical trauma and pain … I thought the Old Testament would be the “seedbed” of my thoughts.

But I’m learning that the New Testament too focuses on this part of Jesus’ Cross! Here’s part of what I mean …

Matthew 26:37-38 … “And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My SOUL (capitalized intentionally, for emphasis) is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.” Here His “SOUL” is mentioned, not specifically His Body.

Again, no human can fathom the depths of that Fact, “Jesus Suffering in His Spirit” on the old, rugged Cross! In His “Soul.”

But this we do know. On the Cross Jesus “took our place” dying “in our stead.” Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:21 actually says so. (Look it up.)

And as such, as our “sin Bearer” (Isaiah 53:6) Jesus endured the penalty, the agony, the suffering our very souls would have endured had we died lost and undone!

Which is?

“But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness (in other words, to sinners), indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish (which Jesus suffered for us), upon every SOUL of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile.” Romans 2:8-9, He endured my “soul suffering” for me!

I merely suggest this is MORE, and likely VERY MUCH MORE, than His physical pain alone.

An old Puritan writer penned this thought …

“My body is not a body, when my soul has forsaken it.” (It obviously decomposes.) Then he continues, “But my soul will remain a soul when this body has crumbled to dust.”

The importance of the soul!

Jesus died on the Cross, the wages of sin being just that, death. He died in body, in soul and in spirit. Just as Adam died (eventually) because of his sin … just as Adam died in soul, spirit and body!

Another old Puritan said …

“Christ’s soul sufferings were the soul of His sufferings.” Simple in a way, but so profound!

I would not be surprised to learn when we get to Heaven that Jesus’ Soul Sufferings were the very Centerpiece of His Agony in becoming our Redeemer.

More next lesson, Lord willing.

Ponder these thoughts!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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