Albert was lying in the hospital in much pain. It was difficult to talk with him because spasms of pain were causing him to groan and cry out.
I felt so sorry for him. I could not help him, although he said he was glad to have a visitor. The cries of pain were causing "butterflies" in my stomach.
The two men beside him felt very sympathetic too. When Albert cried out they expressed hope that something could be done for him. The nurse tried to help him. Everyone in the hospital ward felt sorry for Albert; no one joked or laughed.
Long ago, another Man was in pain. What a contrast the circumstances were! No one cared. People standing around did not sympathize; they actually mocked and made fun of the sufferer.
Do you know who this Man was? The Lord Jesus Christ! The Son of God! Where was He? He was hanging on a cross of wood. The Scripture says, "Sitting down they watched Him there." Matt. 27:3636And sitting down they watched him there; (Matthew 27:36).
Was Jesus in pain? You know He was. He was wearing a crown of thorns that had been pressed down on His blessed head. The judge, Pilate, had had Him whipped and He was hanging by nails that had been driven through His hands and feet. Yet others all around the cross were mocking Him. They said, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save.... He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him: for He said, I am the Son of God." Matt. 27:42, 4342He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. (Matthew 27:42‑43). Even the thieves that were crucified with Him were mocking too.
There was a further contrast. Albert was continually calling for the nurse to come and give him an injection for pain. Like most people when in acute pain, he could think only of himself. The Lord Jesus was thinking of those very ones who were mocking Him. He spoke to God and said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23:3434Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (Luke 23:34).
He also cared for His mother and committed her to the care of John (John 19:25-2725Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. (John 19:25‑27)). He spoke with purpose to fulfill Scripture when He said, "I thirst." John 19:2828After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. (John 19:28). Blessed Savior!
But there is something much worse that the Lord Jesus endured while on that cross. Do you say. "What could be worse than all that pain"? Let us read Matt. 27:45, 4645Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:45‑46): "Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"
What happened during those three hours of darkness? No detail is given. God would not let anyone see. When those words were given prophetically in Psa. 22, it says, "Thou art holy, O Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel." During those dark hours the Lord Jesus was made sin for us. (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21).) "The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Isa. 53:66All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6).
This was much worse than what man did to Jesus. This was entirely God's work; no man could have anything to do with this.