Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 15
We often reduce the gospel to a single event: the crucifixion. And it’s true—Christ died for our sins. But the Catechism wants us to see more than a moment. It invites us to look at the whole arc of Christ’s obedience, not only His death, but His suffering.
From the cradle to the cross, Jesus endured rejection, temptation, sorrow, and injustice. And every moment of that suffering was part of our salvation.
Why does this matter? Because a Savior who merely dies in our place is a substitute. But a Savior who also suffers with us becomes our companion.
Question 37
What do you understand by the word “suffered”?
That during His whole life on earth,
but especially at the end,
Christ bore in body and soul the wrath of God against the sin of the whole human race.
This He did in order that,
by His suffering as the only atoning sacrifice,
He might deliver us, body and soul, from eternal condemnation,
and gain for us God’s grace, righteousness, and eternal life.¹
¹ Isaiah 53:2–12; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18; Romans 3:25; 5:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; John 3:16
Question 38
Why did He suffer “under Pontius Pilate” as judge?
So that He, though innocent,
might be condemned by a civil judge,
and so free us from the severe judgment of God that was to fall on us.²
² Luke 23:13–24; John 19:4, 12–16; Romans 8:1–4
Question 39
Is it significant that He was “crucified” instead of dying some other way?
Yes.
By this death I am convinced
that He shouldered the curse which lay on me,
since death by crucifixion was cursed by God.³
³ Deuteronomy 21:23; Galatians 3:13
A Life of Suffering, Not Just a Death
The word suffered doesn’t just refer to the Passion Week. It refers to a life.
Jesus didn’t begin suffering on Good Friday. He began suffering the moment He stepped into a world marred by sin. He knew hunger. He experienced rejection. He wept at gravesides. He endured betrayal, misunderstanding, temptation, fatigue, and grief.
But He never turned back.
The Catechism draws our eyes to this sweeping picture—not to make us pity Him, but to show the depth of His love. Every ache, every injustice, every sorrow He bore was part of the cost of redeeming us. Not one moment of His pain was wasted.
This wasn’t accidental. It was atoning.
Why Pilate Matters
At first glance, Question 38 seems oddly specific. Why mention Pontius Pilate? Why does the identity of a Roman governor matter?
Because Pilate reminds us that Jesus wasn’t executed by mob rule. He was condemned by legal process. The Judge of all the earth stood silent before a human court. He was declared guilty though innocent. And He accepted that judgment so that we—who are guilty—might be declared righteous.
Pilate’s name remains in our creeds not to honor him, but to underline the historical and judicial reality of Christ’s condemnation. It was real. It was public. And it was unjust—so that mercy could be just.
The Curse and the Cross
Crucifixion was more than brutal. It was cursed.
In the Old Testament, to be hung on a tree was a sign of being under God's judgment. That’s what made the cross such a scandal to the first believers. How could the Messiah, the Son of God, be crucified? Unless, of course, He was bearing a curse not His own.
The Catechism affirms this. Christ was crucified so that we could be sure He bore the curse that belonged to us. He didn’t merely die for us. He died as us.
And that means there is no curse left to fear.
A Savior Who Knows What It Costs
The doctrine of Christ’s suffering is not dry theology. It’s a comfort to the weary.
When you feel the weight of your sin, you can rest in the truth that Christ already carried it. When you feel alone in your sorrow, you can remember that your Savior knows what pain feels like. And when you wonder whether you’re truly loved, the cross answers with clarity.
He didn’t suffer so you could remain in guilt. He suffered to remove it. He endured wrath so you could receive grace. He was condemned so you could be free.
And because of that, you are not defined by what you suffer. You are defined by the One who suffered for you.
A Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, You suffered not only at the cross, but throughout Your whole life. You bore rejection, sorrow, and wrath—for me. Thank You for walking that long road without turning back. Thank You for standing in my place, for receiving a verdict You didn’t deserve, so that I might receive a mercy I never earned. You took the curse. You bore the pain. You were condemned so I could be forgiven. Help me to live today not with shame, but with wonder. And when I suffer, remind me—You’ve been there. You are with me still. Amen.
Daily Bible Readings
New Testament in a Year
April 13 – Luke 9:37–62
April 14 – Luke 10:1–24
April 15 – Luke 10:25–42
April 16 – Luke 11:1–28
April 17 – Luke 11:29–54
April 18 – Luke 12:1–34
April 19 – Luke 12:35–59
The Bible in a Year
April 13 – 1 Samuel 21–23; Luke 9:37–62
April 14 – 1 Samuel 24–25; Luke 10:1–24
April 15 – 1 Samuel 26–28; Luke 10:25–42
April 16 – 1 Samuel 29–31; Luke 11:1–28
April 17 – 2 Samuel 1–2; Luke 11:29–54
April 18 – 2 Samuel 3–5; Luke 12:1–34
April 19 – 2 Samuel 6–8; Luke 12:35–59