The death of Jesus may have seemed like a disaster to the disciples, but it was no surprise and no accident to God. Jesus said of his own life in John 10:18, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.”
Who was really in control on that day some 2000 years ago?
When the mob came to the garden to arrest Jesus, He met them and asked, “Who are you seeking?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.
Jesus said, “I AM,” and 600 men fell on their backs at just the word of His mouth.
He asked again, “Who are you seeking?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied,
I suspect a bit nervously.
“I am He,” Jesus told them, “but let these go,” speaking of His disciples, and allowed them to lead him away.
Then Peter decided to fight, and pulled out a knife and cut off the servant of the high priest’s ear. Jesus told him to put the sword away, healed Malcus, and explained that if He wanted to, He could call down 72,000 angels to deliver Him. There was a bigger purpose in what was happening.
All the divine power and fullness of God dwelt in Him, and at any moment He could have uttered a simple word and wiped out those who came to kill Him. But He yielded His own life and endured what was coming.
All the while they were mocking Him, He kept silent. When they blindfolded him and struck Him, and asked Him to prophecy who it was that hit Him, he knew full well who it was, but took the beating. They pulled out His beard and inflicted many other injuries upon Him, yet He quietly endured.
They whipped him publicly, tearing His flesh open with every blow, and still He did not retaliate, even though it was within His authority and power to do so.
At any moment, He could have cried out, “It’s too much! They’re not worth it!” But He took the punishment. Isaiah 52:14 gives us a glimpse into the excruciating agony that He suffered. “Just as there were many who were appalled at him — his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness.”
What do you suppose was on His mind while they drove spikes through his flesh and pinned Him to the cross? What sort of unimaginable love does anyone have who could bear that kind of pain, yet still with his dying breath, plead on behalf of His torturers, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing?”
What gave Him the strength to suffer beyond imagination? Hebrews 12:2 tells us. “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
He was looking ahead at the joy set before Him. What was that joy? Heaven? No, He already had heaven and all the majesty, power, glory, and worship of untold thousands of holy angels even before He came. He could have returned at any moment and escaped the punishment of the cross.
The joy that was set before Him was you.
There was no other way that you or I could have our sins atoned for and make it to heaven. Jesus atoned for them with His own pure, sinless blood. By His blood, we have the forgiveness of sins, and can be given the gift of eternal life.
Jesus stepped in between us and God, and paid the price for our sin. He died so we wouldn’t have to.
Don’t make the mistake of picturing Jesus as helpless and defenseless on the cross. John 10:18, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.”
It was a selfless act of immeasurable love that put Him there. His love for you.
How do you respond?