He Who Has Suffered

1 Peter 4:1-2 says, Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he should no longer live the rest of his time on the earth for the lusts of the flesh, but for the will of God.

“He who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.”

It should be clear that physical sufferings alone do not lead a person to cease from sin. I don’t believe that if I suffer from chronic excruciating back pain I will cease to sin. One will suffer “spiritually” though, while in the flesh in our struggle against sin. As Eph. 6:12 tells us... we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Christ suffered in the flesh when He came in the likeness of man, and was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin, Heb. 4:15.

Jesus suffered. That verse in Ephesians applied to Jesus also, as far as it goes, in that He battled spiritual forces also, while on the Earth. Jesus overcame. Jesus conquered. Jesus procured our freedom from that bondage. But in doing so, Jesus suffered. It would be difficult and probably presumptuous to establish at what age, He began to suffer, but it was certainly before the cross.

The question is, “When did Jesus know that He was God?” From a spiritual perspective, the Son knew from eternity past Who He was, (Before Abraham was, I AM) and what His earthly mission would be. From the earthly perspective, the incarnate Jesus came to that realization at some point early in life. Just when that point was, we cannot know for sure, but some scriptures help us.

Even before the visitation of the Holy Spirit to Mary, God the Son (Jehovah) was the Christ. The “anointing” was on Him to work out the plan of salvation by taking upon Himself a body of flesh for the purpose of the required sacrifice for redemption. The required sacrifice was to be without spot or blemish... SINLESS! 

From conception, I believe Christ was God the Son incarnate in Jesus, the Son of God. Can anyone assert, with scripture, that Jesus was aware of His divinity in the womb? I don’t think so, but if anyone can enlighten me, please do so.

Why is it important to know when Jesus was aware of Who He was, on earth? Because scripture says He suffered. Jesus suffered even before He was crucified. Jesus was a righteous, innocent, sinless baby... growing in Mary’s womb. Was He aware He was God in flesh? His Deity was aware. Did He begin to suffer in the womb? Was the most holy God suffering in the womb because He was now in union with flesh? I don’t believe so because His flesh was SINLESS. Just like God Almighty did not consider it a defiling thing to be in intimate fellowship with Adam, that is until He sinned, and then God separated Himself from Adam just like He did from Jesus on the cross, Matt. 27:46.

I don’t believe God the Father would allow that kind of suffering to be laid on His very young Son growing up. Instead I read in Luke 2:40, ...the child grew and was strengthened in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. If at this point in Jesus’ life He was omniscient, as God is, He would not need to “grow in wisdom.” This is an emphasis of Jesus’ humanity. And then in verse 42 we read, When He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. So this is a very important chronological point in the narrative of Jesus’ life. We have known little or nothing of His early boyhood, but now we are told that He is 12 years old.

This passage introduces us to Jesus’ meeting with the scholars and teachers in the temple. He had been missing from the family’s journey back home, so they had to return to Jerusalem and after three days they found Him in the temple. Some commentaries say He was Himself teaching them. But my Bible says He was... listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers, Luke 2:46-47.
Some commentaries suggest, through historical evidence, that Gamaliel and Nicodemus were among these religious teachers.

He was indeed growing in wisdom and Grace and becoming aware. And in verse 49 Jesus said (to His mother), “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” And after they arrived back home it is said in verse 52, Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. “Stature” can be defined as, “maturity, full age.”

From this point on, I believe Jesus was subject to the kind of suffering that a righteous virtuous, perfect man would experience being in a world of immorality, inhumanity. debauchery, and sin... as the soul of righteous Lot was vexed and oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds) 2 Peter 2.

Scripture indicates that a righteous man can be “vexed, oppressed, and tormented” in his righteous soul. This speaks to spiritual suffering. The rest of that chapter contrasts the godly with those who CANNOT cease from sinning. In fact, verse 9 says, The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations.

And Phil. 1:29 says, For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.

Jesus suffered many things, many times, greatly in the spirit. He could identify with people in pain, or diseased, or in poverty, or oppressed, and feel sorrow on a level far above what we can imagine... a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, Isaiah 53:3. His compassion was powerful... enough to heal.

The point being, before the cross Jesus suffered greatly... spiritually! He suffered to empathize with us... For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Heb. 4:15. And THEN came the cross. The suffering leading up to actual crucifixion was, I believe, more than any of us could have lived through.

Isaiah 52:14 says, Many were appalled at You; His appearance was so disfigured that He did not look like a man, and His form did not resemble a human being. ~Holman Christian Standard

And as 1 Peter 3:18 says, For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.