Jesus Chose to Suffer for You - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - April 1, 2025

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Jesus Chose to Suffer for You
By Rick Warren

“God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (NIV) 

Few people are willing to suffer for someone else. But Jesus was willing. He didn’t suffer for just one person though; he chose to suffer for all the people in the world! 

John 19 describes some of Jesus’ suffering: “After this, Jesus knew that everything had been done. So that the Scripture would come true, he said, ‘I am thirsty.’ There was a jar full of vinegar there, so the soldiers soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a branch of a hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ mouth” (John 19:28-29 NCV).

On the cross, Jesus experienced the torment of being separated from his Father. Jesus also experienced physical agony—and he was thirsty. He suffered not just from pain but also from great thirst. 

Jesus didn’t deserve to suffer for everyone’s sins. He did nothing wrong. He committed no crimes. He didn’t hurt anyone. He lived a perfect life. 

So why was he crucified?

Jesus died for the redemption of others. We each deserve to suffer for our own sins. But Jesus was willing to suffer and thirst for you so that you could go to heaven. He was thirsty on the cross for your benefit.

“God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NIV). 

Jesus’ love for you is so great, so deep, and so wide that he was willing to take your sin as his own and cover it with his righteousness. Your sin cost him his life. He considers you worth it!

He suffered so that you won’t have to. He went through hell on the cross so that you won’t have to go to hell for eternity. He covered you and protected you from the punishment and pain.

Jesus willingly died so you could have eternal life. He chose to suffer to buy your redemption.

You never have to wonder how much God loves you. He already showed you on the cross!

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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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