Jesus Redeems Pain
Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church
Scripture: Isaiah 53:3-5
Episode Summary
In part 3 of our Christmas 2025 series, Pastor Michael shares the story of young Matthias witnessing a birth in a stable and discovering how pain can bring life. Through Isaiah 53's prophecy about the suffering Messiah, we see that Jesus came not just to be born, but to endure three kinds of pain on our behalf: rejection, responsibility, and redemption. Christmas celebrates that God stepped into our suffering to transform it.
Key Points
- Jesus endured the pain of rejection - despised and actively unwanted by those He came to save
- Jesus bore the pain of responsibility - carrying our grief, sorrow, and burdens that weren't His own
- Jesus suffered the pain of redemption - wounded for our sins as our Substitute on the Cross
- The Shockley family places a long iron spike on their tree first to remember why Jesus came
Main Takeaway
Jesus redeems pain. He doesn't minimize it or shame us for it. He steps into our suffering, takes what was meant for us, and transforms it into forgiveness, freedom, hope, and new life. Our pain is not the end and doesn't have to define us - it can lead us to Jesus. Memorable Quotes
- "Jesus redeems pain."
- "Isaiah 53 is no Hallmark card. It's a promise written in blood."
- "People are willing to tolerate the 'nice teacher' version of Jesus, but they reject King Jesus."
- "Jesus didn't suffer for His own sins - He didn't have any. He suffered for the very people who rejected Him, and for all of us."
- "The deepest wounds don't need stitches - they need grace. The worst pain doesn't need more explanation - it needs redemption."
- "Jesus Is God Who Became Man. He took on our wounds, our grief, and our guilt. And He didn't flinch."
- "God refuses to waste suffering. The same God Who brought Resurrection out of the pain of The Cross can bring life out of what you're going through."
Reflection Question
What pain are you carrying that you need to give to Jesus, trusting Him to redeem it rather than trying to carry it alone?
Tune in to hear the moving story of Matthias witnessing Jesus' birth from outside the stable, and discover the powerful Shockley family tradition of placing a nail on their Christmas tree first.
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