Somewhere along the line, I had picked up a totally false idea. I thought God had sent Jesus to die without giving Him a choice. You may have heard people, understandably, ask, “Why would a loving father send his son to die a violent death?” You may have wondered the same thing. But the truth is Jesus agreed to go to the cross.
Why is it important to know the truth, especially during Easter? Because it opens our eyes to the full impact of the Scripture.
When I realized Jesus was a willing participant in the crucifixion, it was like a fog cleared.
I had buried the idea that God forced His son to die in the recesses of my mind. But I think unknowingly, my concerns played a refrain in my mind as I studied scripture.
They distracted me from the truth, affecting my ability to understand what I was reading. And to draw closer to God.
The false idea is completely contrary to the nature of God. God is always good.
The answer to the question many ask is clearly a good father would not send His son to die. Unless the son was an active participant in the plan.
What Convinced Me that Jesus Agreed to go to the Cross
These two verses transformed my understanding.
In the first, Jesus is teaching to a crowd of people:
“No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”
John 10:18 (NLT)
When I studied this verse, I clearly understood that Jesus willingly gave up His life for us. He did not have to participate in this sacrifice of love. He had the power to both lay down His life, on the cross, and raise it up again when He was resurrected.
The next verses record what Jesus said when he was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. He is speaking after one of the disciples (believed to be Peter) has tried to stop the arrest, by cutting off a guard’s ear.
“Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? 54 But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?” Matthew 26: 53-54 (NLT)
Jesus clearly had the power to stop the events of the crucifixion -at any time. Jesus could have saved Himself. But instead chose to save us, fulfilling the promise made in Scripture.
Now I understood the truth. Jesus was willing to participate in the events leading up to the crucifixion and the resurrection.
I hadn’t realized what an impact my incorrect understanding of the choice Jesus had on me.
As soon as I understood the truth that He had voluntarily gone to the cross, my faith grew deeper. And so, did my love for God and Jesus.
Jesus Agreed to go to the Cross Good Friday
It is difficult to look at the events leading up to Easter Sunday. knowing that Jesus agreed to go to the cross makes it easier.
When we don’t turn away from the horror, we see evidence of the vast love of God and Jesus in every event of Holy Week.
On Good Friday, Jesus was beaten, mocked, abandoned by His friends. He was forced to participate in multiple trials. And yet, His love for us continues in all the accounts. “But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.” Matthew 27:14 (NIV)
To be silent in the face of false accusations while knowing a conviction would lead to a torturous death must have taken unfathomable bravery and self-control.
In His lack of response, Jesus also showed complete surrender to the plan of salvation designed by God.
He had the power to save Himself. But His love for people led Him to go to the cross to save us.
There may be many reasons for this silence. One of the possibilities listed by Charles Spurgeon[i] was that Jesus was taking the entire weight of our sin for which there was no defense.
He also suggests that by being silent Jesus fulfills this prophecy:
“He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.”
Isaiah 53:7 (NIV)
By His silence, Jesus proves that he is the Messiah promised in the Old Testament.
The one who came to save believers from their sin.
Even on the Cross Jesus Showed His Love
As Jesus hung on the cross and death approached, He continued to pour out His love.
While in indescribable pain, He showed His love for His mother and His disciple John.
“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” John 19:25-27 (NIV)
He offered salvation to the criminal who was being crucified beside Him.
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:40-43 (NIV)
Victory in Death
Jesus continues to show us that unfathomable love today.
Jeusus took all our sins upong Himself, cancelling them when He died.
His enemies thought His influence and opposition was finished. But they were wrong.
With the finished work of Jesus, the path of humanity was changed radically. There was a final victory over death.
Luke’s words show us that there was clear evidence at the time that a momentous event had occurred:
“It was now only midday, yet the whole world became dark for three hours as the light of the sun faded away. 45 And suddenly in the temple the thick veil hanging in the Holy Place was ripped in two! 46 Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Father, I surrender my Spirit into your hands.” And he took his last breath and died.” Luke 23:44-46 (TPT)
Although far from night the sky was dark.
The thick veil that hung in the Temple was ripped in two. This was the veil that separated the Presence of God from the High Priest. The tearing for the curtain or veil showed that Jews or Gentiles could now approach God directly.
Through Jesus, our sins are forgiven. He became our High Priest and sacrifice.
Jesus spoke His last words loudly, signaling victory, not defeat.
Jesus’s Love Triumphs Through the Empty Tomb
After the silence of Saturday, we see the culmination of the love of Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit.
When the women go to the tomb to care for Jesus’ body, the tomb was empty. His body was gone.
They tell the disciples what they have found. Jesus was raised from death.
Through His resurrection, Jesus has broken the chains of sin.
There is good news for believers in His finished work of Jesus. We do not have to do anything to earn it, it is grace. When we believe in Jesus’ work, we become children of God. This post explains more about being a child of God.
At the moment we believe, our sins are forgiven, and we step into eternal life.
You might enjoy Phil Wickhams’ song This is Amazing Grace . It is a great explaination of the the grace of God.
It is hard to picture a greater love than this. The love of the Father who made the plan. The love of Jesus who agreed to go to the cross.
[i] Morning by Morning, The Devotions of Charles Spurgeon, Zondervan Grand Rapids Michigan, 2008.