Articles
Why Did He Go Through With It?
Why did He do it? Why was Jesus willing to undergo such violent rejection by His own people and die like a common criminal, after being insulted, spat upon, and savagely flogged? How was He able to endure it all with such dignity and restraint? He had His reasons.
Jesus did it to fulfill Old Testament prophecies. When Peter struck out at those who came to arrest his Master, Jesus ordered him to put his sword away. “But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” (Matt. 26:54). Jesus knew exactly what the prophets had said He would do (Matt. 26:24, 31, 56; Mark 9:12; Luke 24:25-27, 46). These prophecies must be fulfilled.
Jesus did it because it was His Father’s will. Naturally He shrank from the horrors of what He knew lay ahead. He did not want to go through with it. And yet He yielded His own will to His Father’s (Matt. 26:36-46; see John 12:27).
Jesus did it because He loved us. “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us . . .” (1 John 3:16; see John 15:13; Eph. 5:2). What a love that was!
Jesus did it because we so desperately needed a Savior. Unwilling to see us die in our sin, He took the punishment we deserved, leaving us free from sin’s eternal penalty (Isa. 53:4-8; 1 Peter 3:18).
Jesus did it because of what we could become. “. . . he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Cor. 5:15; see Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:24-25).
Jesus did it to set an example for us. He wanted to show us how to endure unjust treatment patiently, without retaliating, trusting God to do right by us (1 Peter 2:18-23).
Jesus did it for the reward. “. . . who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2). What was “the joy that was set before him”? Was it being exalted to God’s right hand? Was it the anticipation of our salvation? Whatever the joy was, it sustained Him when all was against Him.
He had His reasons.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
