## Lord’s Day 15
### 37. Q. What do you understand by the word “suffered”?

**A**. That during his whole life on earth, but especially at the end, Christ sustained in body and soul the wrath of God against the sin of the whole human race.<sup>1</sup> This he did in order that, by his suffering as the only atoning sacrifice,<sup>2</sup> he might deliver us, body and soul, from eternal condemnation,<sup>3</sup> and gain for us God’s grace, righteousness, and eternal life.<sup>4</sup>

<sup>1</sup> [Isa. 53](/References/Bible/58%20-%20Hebrews/Hebrews53.md); [1 Pet. 2:24](/References/Bible/60%20-%201Peter/1Peter2.md#24); [3:18](/References/Bible/60%20-%201Peter/1Peter3.md#18)
<sup>2</sup> [Rom. 3:25](/References/Bible/45%20-%20Romans/Romans3.md#25); [Heb. 10:14](/References/Bible/58%20-%20Hebrews/Hebrews10.md#14); [1 John 2:2](/References/Bible/62%20-%201John/1John2.md#2); [4:10](/References/Bible/62%20-%201John/1John4.md#10)
<sup>3</sup> [Rom. 8:1–4](/References/Bible/45%20-%20Romans/Romans8.md); [Gal. 3:13](/References/Bible/48%20-%20Galatians/Galatians3.md#13)
<sup>4</sup> [John 3:16](/References/Bible/43%20-%20John/John3.md#16); [Rom. 3:24–26](/References/Bible/45%20-%20Romans/Romans3.md#24)

### 38. Q. Why did he suffer “under Pontius Pilate” as judge?

**A**. So that he, though innocent, might be condemned by an earthly judge,<sup>1</sup> and so free us from the severe judgment of God that was to fall on us.<sup>2</sup>

<sup>1</sup> [Luke 23:13–24](/References/Bible/42%20-%20Luke/Luke23.md#13); [John 19:4, 12–16](/References/Bible/43%20-%20John/John19.md#4)
<sup>2</sup> [Isa. 53:4–5](/References/Bible/23%20-%20Isaiah/Isaiah53.md#4); [2 Cor. 5:21](/References/Bible/47%20-%202Corinthians/2Corinthians5.md#21); [Gal. 3:13](/References/Bible/48%20-%20Galatians/Galatians3.md#13)

### 39. Q. Is it significant that he was “crucified” instead of dying some other way?

**A**. Yes. By this death I am convinced that he shouldered the curse which lay on me, since death by crucifixion was cursed by God.<sup>1</sup>

<sup>1</sup> [Gal. 3:10–13](/References/Bible/48%20-%20Galatians/Galatians3.md#10) ([Deut. 21:23](/References/Bible/05%20-%20Deuteronomy/Deuteronomy21.md#23))

