Who Done It?
Quote from Forum Archives on February 24, 2004, 3:57 pmPosted by: Asn <Asn@...>
The Father loves me because I lay down my life that I may have it back again. No one can take my life from me. I lay down my life voluntarily. For I have the right to lay it down when I want to and also the power to take it again. For my Father has given me this command." John 10:17-18 NLTWho killed Jesus? It's a question that has been debated for centuries. Some have said the Jews; some have said the Romans. I venture that both of those perspectives miss the point of His death altogether. From the day Jesus was born, men tried to kill Him. If they - anyone - had the power to take His life, it wouldn't have taken 33 years for someone to succeed. Even when the crowd came to arrest Him and escort Him to the high priest, Jesus told Peter that He could easily have called 12 legions of angels to protect Him if He wanted to. "But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?" (Matthew 26:53-54) No one could take His life from Him; not the Jews, not the Romans, not even the devil himself.
He laid down His life voluntarily. Willingly. Why? Because He was the only One who could pay the price for your sin, for my sin, for the sins of the whole human race, from Adam to the last human being who will ever live. It was the will of God to bruise Him so that He could purchase men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation (Isaiah 53:10; Revelation 5:9). It was my sin and your sin that nailed Him to the cross. It was His great love for us that held Him there. So, as you go to see "The Passion of the Christ" and as you celebrate this Easter season, take it personally. It's not about what anyone did to Jesus; it's about what Jesus did for you.
Heavenly Father, You are so gracious. Your love is beyond human comprehension. It was for me that You sent Your only Son to the cross; it was Your love for me that caused you not to rescue Him when He cried out to You. I can't comprehend that kind of love, but I am humbly grateful. Please shine Your light of love through me so that others may come to know You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Posted by: Asn <Asn@...>
Who killed Jesus? It's a question that has been debated for centuries. Some have said the Jews; some have said the Romans. I venture that both of those perspectives miss the point of His death altogether. From the day Jesus was born, men tried to kill Him. If they - anyone - had the power to take His life, it wouldn't have taken 33 years for someone to succeed. Even when the crowd came to arrest Him and escort Him to the high priest, Jesus told Peter that He could easily have called 12 legions of angels to protect Him if He wanted to. "But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?" (Matthew 26:53-54) No one could take His life from Him; not the Jews, not the Romans, not even the devil himself.
He laid down His life voluntarily. Willingly. Why? Because He was the only One who could pay the price for your sin, for my sin, for the sins of the whole human race, from Adam to the last human being who will ever live. It was the will of God to bruise Him so that He could purchase men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation (Isaiah 53:10; Revelation 5:9). It was my sin and your sin that nailed Him to the cross. It was His great love for us that held Him there. So, as you go to see "The Passion of the Christ" and as you celebrate this Easter season, take it personally. It's not about what anyone did to Jesus; it's about what Jesus did for you.
Heavenly Father, You are so gracious. Your love is beyond human comprehension. It was for me that You sent Your only Son to the cross; it was Your love for me that caused you not to rescue Him when He cried out to You. I can't comprehend that kind of love, but I am humbly grateful. Please shine Your light of love through me so that others may come to know You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.