The evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John do not describe Jesus' suffering in the hours prior to His death in great detail, in contrast to the often very graphic portrayal of news events we can see every day on television. But the evangelist's contemporaries did not need a detailed description, because they were aware of the brutal methods of punishment used by the Romans.

Ten years ago the movie "The Passion of Christ" was shown in movie theaters around the world. Actor Mel Gibson was the film's director and also contributed to the script. Gibson's intent was to portray the pain suffered by Christ in brutally realistic manner. The American news magazine "Time" characterized the movie as one of the most violent films ever produced.

Mel Gibson defended his portrayal of Christ's suffering. In interviews he maintained that the actual crucifxion was far worse that what people saw in his movie. His intent was to impress the enormity of Christ's suffering in making His sacrifice upon modern viewers who are largely unfamiliar with the brutal methods used by the ancient Romans.

Yes, in the last hours of His life our Lord and Master suffered indescribable pain.

But the greatest pain He experienced was not via a whip or nails. Instead, it was the separation from His heavenly Father right before His death: "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46).

In these minutes Jesus represented the sins of all humanity and became a curse: "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree" (Galatians 3:13).

Jesus became "sin for us" (2 Corinthians 5:21), for our sake He was accursed.

Each of us inflicted the greatest of all the pains on Jesus that He endured during His suffering and death.

With these thoughts I wish everyone a rewarding Sabbath!