Hebrews 12: 2  “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”  As Christian men and leaders, we go about our lives and daily responsibilities and take for granted what Jesus did for us on the cross.  Easter is often the one time of the year that we really stop and remember Jesus’ pain and suffering on Good Friday before the joy of his resurrection on Easter Sunday.  I rarely get personal writing these Leadership Challenges, but permit me to do exactly that with this one.  On Thursday before Good Friday two weeks ago, I had major shoulder surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and other joint damage.  The surgery went well, but Good Friday was the most painful and suffering day of my life; and pain medication was not much help except to make me nauseated and sick to my stomach.  The next three days were much of the same, but God reminded me that my physical pain and suffering did not compare to that of Jesus on the cross for my sins.  His physical suffering and pain actually took second place to his pain of taking all our sins as they were nailed to the cross.  But, Jesus did this for the joy that was set before him as He now is seated at the right hand of the Father.  As the founder and perfecter of our faith, only He could do this.

Yes, my pain and suffering on Good Friday reminded me of the cross and it continues to remind me as I recover and start the long and painful rehab for the next six months.  This is my second shoulder surgery, so I know the joy that will come to have full recovery and shoulder use without pain once I am renewed and rehabilitated.  I can play golf again.  I am just thankful that I do not have three shoulders as I have a shoulder anatomy that lends itself to this type of injury and pain.  That is no different than the anatomy of our sins which placed all the pain and suffering on Jesus when He hung on the cross with every joint in his body suffering more than my one shoulder.  You see, Jesus shouldered my sins and I must remember this each day.  While salvation is free to us, it did not come cheaply with the pain and suffering on the cross and the death of God’s only Son.  Remember the pain of the cross, but remember the joy that is before us who accept the resurrection of the One Who bore this pain.  It is personal and eternal with a reserved seat with Jesus and His Father.