It is true what they say: “A parent is only as happy as the least happy child.”

My second child has been sick the last several days, and I’ve been feeling the blow of every cough, grabbing of the neck due to sore throat, and every whimper. I haven’t been able to sleep a wink in the last two days since I’ve been sleeping with her. Every time she coughs, I’m feeling it in my chest even though I’m not sick myself.

I thought about this scenario: If an angel appeared and offered to me that if I were willing to take her sickness, she would be instantly made well, I’d without hesitation say, “yes!” Every parent would. If we could take our child’s sickness so that we would be sick but our child wouldn’t be, then we would gladly do so.

Isn’t that the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ?

He took our sickness (infirmities) so that we wouldn’t be sick anymore. “This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” Matt 8:17

Except our sickness was leading to eternal death. It was leading to eternal damnation and loneliness and separation. We were sick beyond cure. Yet, Jesus too our sickness. He could no longer watch us suffer and therefore made a remedy, and that was to place Himself under the wrath of God so that we may be spared.

How much does He love us? More than I love my own children. More than you love your spouse or your parents.

Rest assured in this God. He loves you!

PH