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I want to remind us of the perspective that Jesus, our Savior, had concerning His own death. Because I think it helps us appreciate it a little bit more. His death was 1) Purposeful, 2) Voluntary, 3) Joyful, and 4) Glorious.

Well, first of all, His death was purposeful. He recognized that He was going to die. John 12:27 says, “What shall I say, Father, do not let this hour come upon me. But that is why I came.”

The purpose of his death was also voluntary. It was a voluntary or volitional outpouring of His love, and it showed full and true submission to God, the Father. Romans 5:8, “for God demonstrates his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” In the garden, Jesus said three times to the Father, “not My will, but Your will be done.” In John 10:17-18 Jesus said, “The Father loves me because I’m willing to give up My life in order that I may receive it back again. No one takes My life away from Me. I give it up of My own free will. I have the right to give it up and I have the right to take it back.This is what my father has commanded me to do.”

His death was purposeful. His death was voluntary. His death was also joyful. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and He sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus was fully aware of the pain and the suffering that He would face at the cross, but He had his eyes on the joy, and that joy was purchasing our eternal destiny.

And then finally, Jesus considered death as the path to glory. In John 12:23 He said those words, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to receive great glory.” And this is an amazing verse to me because this is shortly before the passion week. This is shortly before He would go through all of that suffering, the betrayal, the arrest, the scourging, the piercing of his hands and feet, the crown of thorns on his head, and the gathering up the sins of the world that pierced His heart. He didn’t say the time has come for the Son of Man to be tortured and tormented and suffer for the sins of the world. No, He said, “the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” He ignored the suffering and kept his eyes on the glory. And if we can grasp the truth of that verse, it would totally change our perspective of the sufferings in our life.

So this is His perspective of His own death. He was born to die.

Gene Cunningham - May 23, 2000

Living Sacrifice 10

Heb 2:11 -- "He is unashamed to call us brethren". Christ had to become a brother first (Phi 2:5-11) the Seven aspects of a perfect attitude: (1) condescension (2) kenosis - He emptied Himself and limited His divine nature with regard to Himself; spiritual gifts are for the benefit of others; (3) volunteered - "took the form of a bond servant"; (4) incarnation; (5) humbled himself; (6) obedience to the plan of God - "to the point of death"; (7) crucifixion - "even the death on the cross". Unlimited atonement "that He might taste death for everyone". Heb 2:10 "to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings; "Captain" - founder, source, and author of our salvation (1Th 5:23-24, Act 17:26). He took on our nature so that in salvation we take on divine nature (2Pe 1:4). Four things regarding brethren in Heb 2:12-13: (1) Proclamation "thy name to my brethren"; (2) Brethren are identified by those who respond Mat 12:47-50); (3) in heaven there will be a song of praise -- the theme is the greatness of faith -- "I will put my trust in Him"; (4) the unity of the royal family of God -- "I and the children You have given Me". In incarnation, Jesus Christ shared in flesh and blood, but uniquely without a sin nature (Heb 2:14). Deliverance -- to release someone from a bond in the fear of death (Heb 2:15). Jesus Christ had to become a man (Heb 2:16-17). Jesus Christ was tempted and never fell; He understands temptation (Heb 12:18). When He stops having compassion and forgiveness for us, we can stop having it for others.

Scripture References: Hebrews 2:12-13, Acts 17:26, Hebrews 12:18, Hebrews 2:10, Hebrews 2:16-17, Philippians 2:5-11, Hebrews 2:15, Hebrews 2:11, Hebrews 2:14, Matthew 12:47-50

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