by: Carole L. Haines
17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it back. 18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it back. This commandment I received from My Father.”
(John 10:17-18)
Jesus was in complete control at every moment of His arrest, trial, humiliating death and His glorious Resurrection. It states above that No one took Jesus’ life away from him. Not the Pharisees, not Pilate, not the Crowd. Jesus laid down His life by His own free choice. Listen to a little piece of the conversation with Pilate.
10 So Pilate *said to Him, “Are you not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over Me at all, if it had not been given to you from above; for this reason the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin.” 12 As a result of this, Pilate made efforts to release Him.
(John 19:10-12a)
At no point did anyone but Jesus have control over His destiny. He freely gave His life and He raised Himself from the dead. This was prophesied of Him in Isaiah 53, the chapter of the Suffering Servant.
“But the Lord desired To crush Him, causing Him grief;
If He renders Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring,
He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.
11 As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied;
By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many,
For He will bear their wrongdoings.
12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the plunder with the strong,
Because He poured out His life unto death, And was counted with wrongdoers;
Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the wrongdoers”. (Isaiah 53:10-12)
Notice the phrases use, “He renders Himself as a guilt offering…He will bear their wrongdoings…He poured out His life unto death…Yet He Himself bore the sin of many and interceded for the wrongdoers.” Jesus chose to die for us. He chose to offer Himself for us. He bore our sins out of love for His Father and for us. God is so, so good; He is just so, so good to us. All Hail King Jesus! I can’t wait to throw that crown at His feet and sing to Him forever. Jesus was never a victim; He was always the Victor. Amen and Amen. Hallelujah! All Hail to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is risen indeed. Lord Jesus arise in our hearts.
hisshadowings.com 