BS6F- CHRIST'S DEATH WAS VOLUNTARY
The astonishing thing about Christ's death was that it was voluntary. He told his followers that no one was taking his life from him. Instead, HE was laying it down by his own free will.
John 10:18 / 1 John 3:16
When Jesus decided to head into Jerusalem for the big Passover feast, he was signing his own death warrant, because the Jewish leaders were looking for him. They wanted Jesus out of the way. Three times on the way into Jerusalem he told his disciples that he was going to die.
Mark 8:31 / Mark 9:31-32 / Mark 10:32-34
Jesus had described himself as the "Good Shepherd" and a good shepherd is willing to die for his sheep (John 10:11). He was on a course to do just that. On the night Jesus was betrayed by Judas and then arrested, his followers would have gladly fought for him, but instead, Jesus told them to put their swords away. Then he healed the one man whose ear had been severed by Peter's sword.
Luke 22:47-51
When Jesus could have defended himself, he remained silent. When the Roman governor boasted of his powers of capital punishment, Jesus quietly and calmly informed him as to why he had that power. What did Jesus say?
John 19:11
Even on the cross when he was dying and in excruciating pain, Jesus forfeited his right to call on his Father to save him.
Luke 23: 35-37
He voluntarily went to his death because the result was to be far greater than his life.
Not only was Christ's death voluntary, but it was foretold. The scriptures are filled with examples and predictions of what God's suffering servant would go through. Jesus knew these prophesies and that HE was the fulfillment of them. That's why he told his disciples:
Matthew 17:22-23 / Luke 9:22
On the surface it looked like the Jews in collaboration with the Romans had killed Jesus. But in reality, Jesus had been born to die …. and it was God -- behind it all --- willing to sacrifice the precious life of his son so that WE could start over.
Isaiah 53:10-12
Next Study: BS6G - Man's Heart