Because Jesus fully entered human suffering, He understands every bitter cup we face—poverty, betrayal, pain, bereavement, and even death. No matter what lies ahead, we are never alone. Christ has gone before us.

 God either causes or allows everything that happens.

To illustrate, here is a story about an old cowboy applying for insurance. When asked if he had ever had an accident, the cowboy replied no, despite being bitten by a rattlesnake and kicked by a mule. When pressed, he said, “They weren’t accidents. They meant to do it.”

From there, Pastor Don shifted to the church’s current season, particularly the challenge of being without a pastor. He shared the story of “Professor Little,” a man who lived in a little town, taught at a little college, earned a little salary, drove a little car, lived in a little house, and had six little children. When asked how he managed, Professor Little replied, “Every little helps a little.”

Every member of the church matters.
No one is too small to serve.
Everyone can do something, invite someone to church, send a card, make a phone call, sing, praise, testify, or simply show up faithfully. When every member decides to do something for the glory of God, the church grows stronger.



John 19:25–30

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

28 After this, Jesus, [a]knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Nowhere in Scripture do we see Jesus calling Mary “mother.” Even here, at the cross, He says, “Woman, behold thy son.” This was not disrespect. Rather, Jesus was fulfilling His responsibility and perhaps guarding against the future elevation of Mary beyond her proper place.
In this moment of intense suffering, Jesus ensured His mother would be cared for. John was entrusted with her well-being. Even in agony, Jesus was thinking of others.

Hour after hour, Jesus hung on the cross, suspended by tender tendons as waves of pain cycled through His body. Finally, with swollen and parched lips, He cried, “I thirst.”

This was the cry of physical suffering.
The only thing Jesus ever asked for in this world was a drink of water and He never truly received it. Instead of cool water, He was given vinegar soaked on a common hyssop weed.

There may have been bubbling springs, flowing rivers, and costly wine for the wealthy, but when Jesus asked for relief, He received bitterness.

When Jesus drank that bitter cup, He positioned Himself to sympathize with every human who would ever suffer. No matter what we face, Jesus can say, “I have been there.”

A person born with a silver spoon cannot truly understand poverty.
Someone who has never known sickness cannot fully understand chronic pain.
Someone who has never buried a loved one cannot truly understand grief.
Over 60 years of ministry, Pastor Don shared that he has buried 13 children and teenagers. Though he and his wife were blessed with healthy children, he could not imagine the pain of losing a child.
Until someone has walked that road, they cannot truly understand, but Jesus has.

As the church looks toward a new year, many have already drunk bitter cups, and others will drink them in the future. There may come a day when someone cries out, “Does anyone understand?”

The answer is yes, Jesus understands.

Poverty is a bitter cup.
Some are better off now than they once were, but many remember lean years.

We see images of starving children, their swollen bellies and frail limbs, a reminder of deep need.

My own father was the youngest of a big family growing up poor. One year, he longed for a cowboy hat that cost just a couple of dollars. His parents saved nickels and dimes, but when Christmas came, the money had to be used for groceries instead.
Remembering my childhood birthdays, we had no parties, no presents, just a simple cake.
 
Jesus understands poverty. Scripture says He was rich, yet for our sakes became poor. He was born in a borrowed manger, rode borrowed transportation, was crucified on a borrowed cross, and buried in a borrowed grave.
He said, “The foxes have holes, and the birds have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head.”

Jesus understands poverty.

Betrayal cuts deeply.
True friends are rare.
A friend is someone who knows everything about you and still loves you, someone who speaks up for you when you are not present.

Painful stories from the past: a deacon whose best friend stole his wife, pastors who lovingly served people only to be stabbed in the back, and neighbors who returned kindness with lawsuits.

Jesus experienced betrayal firsthand.
Judas, one of His closest companions, betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver, with a kiss. Peter, who vowed loyalty, denied Him.

Jesus understands betrayal.

Pain is real and persistent.
Pastor Don spoke candidly about his own chronic back pain, the surgeries that could not help, and the dependence on medication just to function.
Many carry pain quietly, arthritis, illness, daily suffering.

Jesus endured unimaginable physical agony: a crown of thorns pressed into His head, a Roman scourging that left Him barely recognizable.

Jesus understands pain.

Grief never fully fades.
A few weeks ago, I spoke here at Annapolis First Baptist and on that day we watched a presentation in memory of loved ones who have passed. And that is good that we remember them, but they pain never fully goes away. First it was my father, then my mother, then my brother, and then my wife. In 2026, it may be my turn or the turn of one of my loved ones or friends. You might lose a member of the church, might loose more than one. It's a bitter cup to lose loved ones.

Jesus had dear friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.
When Lazarus died, Jesus stood at the open grave and He wept.
"Lazarus come forth."

Jesus understands loss.

Though many claim not to fear death, everybody has a fear of the unknown.
The unknown brings fear.
The fear of how it may happen, cancer, alzheimer, etc.
Yet believers know that God gives grace when the moment comes.

Jesus knew why He came, to die for our sins.
Though He loved creation and life, He willingly fulfilled His mission.
In the valley of the shadow of death, there is light.
Shadows cannot harm us.


I read this from story from when they would send missionaries off and they would go down to the dock and this was back before the big modern boats. The missionaries would get on board and the people from the church that were standing there.
They would sing, "When we asunder part, it brings us inward pain. God be with you till we meet again."
 
Then as the ship went over the horizon, somebody invariably would say, "there they go, there they go." And he said he would always go back to the church depressed and said one day they saw some missionaries off and sure enough, somebody said there at the end, "There they go, there they go."

There at the church the pastor got to talking to the Lord. And said the Lord said, "Down there they may be saying 'there they go.' But in heaven they're saying 'There they come! There they come!"

Jesus understands death.

If you need Jesus, you can invite Him into your heart right where you are.
If you are carrying bitter cups today.
Do not walk alone.
Jesus understands.

This article is based on a sermon delivered by Pastor Don Estes and has been adapted for written format.