He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 53:3‭-‬5 NIV

Despite much optimism the latest scan results have come back and once again the cancer has returned. As well as the obvious disappointment, the associated pain from the cancer has also returned. Managing the pain has proved challenging and sometimes overwhelming as it affects eating, sleeping and many other aspects of life.

These verses have become a great comfort to me. The prophet Isaiah is foretelling the experiences of the future Messiah we now know as Jesus. Jesus knew what it was to experience pain and suffering in his life and his death. It was nothing he deserved and yet because he did, we can come before him, even in pain, and know that he gets it!

Pain comes in many ways for us, but right now, for me, it’s physical. Jesus knows what pain is all about. He experienced every kind. Grief, betrayal, loneliness, rejection, injustice and of course physical pain. It’s Good Friday when I post this and I’m reminded of his brutal death and all the pain that led up to it.

It’s called Good Friday for a reason. It’s a pivotal moment in history when Jesus took upon himself all our guilt and shame in the most painful way possible (“he took up our pain and bore our suffering”).
He was separated from his Father in order to take the punishment due to us (“the punishment that brought us peace was on him”).
By doing so, he opened the way for us to enter into God’s presence free from guilt and free from shame. Whatever condition we find ourselves in, we can come to the cross and find peace, forgiveness and healing (“by his wounds we are healed”).

He did this for you and for me … no exceptions. Whatever you’re going through today you can lay it at the foot of his cross and know he gets it. Be honest with him, he understands the pain and is able to comfort, bring hope and healing.