Jesus’ Perspective on His own Death

These are Written
Believe
Should Not Perish
3:16
Never, Never
Life, Love, Light
Condemned by Choice
This and That
Seven Expressions of Love from the Cross
Why?
I know, I know!
What?
UGH!
Expedient
Gain Grace?
The Gift
The Hands of God
Immortality
COME UP HERE
Not by Works of Righteousness We have Done
Jesus’ Perspective on His own Death
I AM

Download or order the free booklet “The Gift” here: https://basictraining.org/the-gift/

Thanks to the American Bible Society “The Gospel of John” for the video scenes.

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 34

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Rom 12:1-2 Jesus Christ is the living sacrifice, having presented His body that brings salvation (Tit 2:11, Heb 10:5). Once you lose the hope of His return, the Christian life loses its vitality. Our focus on His coming in Christ is our fulfillment (2Co 4:16-18). You won't find fulfillment in what you wish for; things in this world cannot give what doesn't belong in the world (2Ti 4:7). The faithful servant (Luk 12:35-36) finishes to the end. We take our rightful place at the celebration feast with the Lord when he comes (Luk 12:37-38). We have a need to be ready and avoid those who will rob you (Luk 12:39-40). His coming is the treasure; evil can rob us when we live for this day and lose the blessed hope (Mat 24:42-48, 2Pe 3:3-4). We try to gain from our associations "beat them" when we deny His imminent return. We become self-indulgent and live for ourselves (Mat 24:48-51). Characteristics of those losing the focus and blessed hope: (1) evil - in attitude and treatment of others; (2) self-indulgence; (4) tries by self-discipline to no avail; (4) association with the world (Rom 12:2); (5) will be surprised when He comes (1Jn 2:28). Outcome at the feast --will be seated with hypocrites. In the parable: the house is our soul; we are the head of our house; we must defend the blessings given us; we have crowns, but will lose them if we're not faithful (1Pe 1:4); our house/soul is under attack; there are thieves; are you alert? living expectantly? What are we "doing" when He comes (Mat 24:46)? -- living expectantly. The promises are completely fulfilled in eternity (Heb 11:13).

Scripture References: Romans 12:2, Titus 2:11, Matthew 24:48-51, Romans 12:1-2, Matthew 24:42-48, Luke 12:39-40, Hebrews 11:13, Luke 12:37-38, Matthew 24:46, Luke 12:35-36, John 2:28, Hebrews 10:5