For quite some time Jesus had predicted his suffering and death. The first time came right after Peter confessed him to be the Messiah. Jesus responded: "The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised" (Luke 9:22).
Even though the Roman soldiers led Jesus out to crucify him, they were only doing what he had said they would do.
So, though "they led him out to crucify him,"(Mark 15:20) Jesus was no passive victim. Jesus took up his cross and walked to Golgotha, because he had chosen the way of suffering. He believed this was the will of God, the way by which he would realize his messianic destiny. Jesus chose to suffer and die so that he might fulfil Isaiah's vision of the Suffering Servant of God, the one who was "despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity." As this Servant, Jesus "has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases."
Be blessed as you accept in faith that Jesus was “wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed". (Isaiah 53:3-5).
Prayer:
Dear Lord, you chose the cross. The Jewish leaders accused you, Pilate sentenced you and Roman soldiers led you to Golgotha. But they were simply working out what God had willed and you, Lord Jesus, had freely and painfully chosen.
How can I thank you for this costly choice? Because you took up the cross, I can take up life in all of its fullness. Because you were led to die, I can be led into the eternal life. Because you carried my sin, I can enjoy forgiveness. How good you are to me, dear Lord, my Saviour!
Amen.
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