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6. What do You Know of Christ's Sufferings?
Christ died - that is true and sure. He died after painful suffering. Christ knew beforehand by which death he would die. He prophesied openly concerning this.
Do you know where you will die? Will it be in your town or on the road or in your bed? Will you die through an accident or will you die a natural death? At what age will you pass away, in which month and on what day? What will happen to your relatives after you die?
We have absolutely no knowledge about our death. The prophets also did not know the hour of their appointed time. But the Lord Christ knew and foretold that he would die in the city of Jerusalem, after a trial by the Jewish elders and heathen Romans and after much suffering. He decided his own free will on which day he would die. It was the day of the big Passover feast in which people sacrificed sheep, so that Gods anger would not come upon them because of their sin. So Jesus died as the Lamb of God carrying the sin of the world, bearing our misdeeds so that Gods fiery wrath pass over everyone who believes in him. He who believes in Christ will become pure and be justified for eternity.
Now Christ not only foretold the time, manner and meaning of his death, but he also assured his followers with absolute certainty that he would rise from the dead after three days. No one was able to hinder his triumphant resurrection and it truly came about.
Jesus also said: "No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again" (John 10:18).
No man has knowledge of his appointed time to die and has no power for his own personal resurrection. Christ died - carrying the sins of the world and dying for our justification. He is the one who gives life - his own life to all who believe in Him. We find no man on our globe who died and arose as He did. Christ's death is Gods great blessing for all mankind.