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 - April 8, 2000

Simplicity in Christ #12

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God's word is a sword. What is its target? (Heb 4:12). Man shall not live by bread alone (Mat 4:1-4). The word is a sword to be used in prayer (Eph 6:17-18). Sermon on the Mount was a message on the life of a disciple (Mat 6:7-13). There's no fellowship apart from participation.Committing sin quenches the Spirit (Eph 4:30). Lack of participation (omission) grieves the Spirit (1Th 5:19). How is God's name exalted? God's name is "hallowed" by the coming of His Kingdom (Eze 36:23). When is His will done? The mark of His Kingdom is when His will is done in the life of His people (Rom 14:17). What is the name being hallowed? Jesus. "What is His name?" was an Old Testament mystery (Pro 30:4, John 17:6, Phi 2:10).

Should we pray for the kingdom? (Joh 18:36-37). The Kingdom of Glory is prophetic, universal, future. It's also a Kingdom of Grace which is personal, practical, and present. It works out in human thoughts, actions and decisions. Praying "Thy Kingdom come" means let it be in me. He is creator, redeemer, mediator, but also what God desires man to become. To do that, or will has to be subordinated to His. The ills of the earth are a result of human wills running the show. The Jews longed for the King of Glory, but not the Kingdom of Grace. We want Him to control others, but surrender to His will is the only path to righteousness, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit. For the Church Age believer, the Kingdom of Grace prepares the way for the Kingdom of Glory which includes the marraige of the church to Jesus Christ, united in a spiritual union forever. What we see as a discipline in Jesus' life is a discipline in prayer. Jesus always stresses the importance of God's word (Heb 4:12). When he exhorts the disciples he emphasizes prayer (Eph 6:17-18).

Prayer converts God's Word into His Work. "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." (Joh 14:9-14). How can God's Word be converted to work written into our life? (Joh 10:25-38, Joh 8:31-32). We are a message to others, whether true or false (2Co 3:2-3).

You're writing a gospel, a chapter each day,

by the deeds that you do, and the words that you say.

Men read what you write, whether faithless or true.

So, what is the gospel according to you?

Jesus prayed so that the perfect Man could be a living example of the word of God in His everyday life (Mar 1:35, Luk 11:1). How much greater our need to be in prayer. What's the missing link between "greater works than these he will do" (Joh 14:12) and "I will do it" (Joh 14:14)? "... ask in my name" (Joh 14:13-14).

Prayer transforms fellowship into fruit. "He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing" (Joh 15:5-6). God has designed partnership into His plan. Without fellowship or fruit, the world harshly treats a believer. "...they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned" (Joh 15:6, Eze 16:40-41, Eze 17:9-10, Eze 19:12-14). God changes our desires, and grant them when we pray (Joh 15:7-8, Psa 37:4). The request must glorify Him. "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." (Joh 15:16).

Prayer is the "divine alchemy" which turns sorrow into joy. "...Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full" (Joh 16:20-28). We need to seek Him until we see Him (Joh 14:21-23, Mat 5:8-9). We will see a spiritual reality when we ask (Heb 11:12, Heb 11:27). The promise illustrated by the picture when met with the prerequisite ends up in a privilege (Joh 16:23). We go to the Father in the name of the Son, by the power of the Spirit. Jesus gave the disciples one last prayer example (Joh 17:1-26).

Scripture References: John 14:21-23, Luke 11:1, Matthew 6:7-13, Ezekiel 16:40-41, John 18:36-37, John 16:20-28, Mark 1:35, Ephesians 6:17-18, John 17:1-26, John 15:6, Philippians 2:10, John 15:16, John 8:31-32, Matthew 4:1-4, John 16:23, John 15:5-6, John 17:6, Psalms 37:4, John 10:25-38, Hebrews 4:12, Hebrews 11:27, John 14:13-14, Romans 14:17, John 15:7-8, John 14:9-14, Hebrews 11:12, John 14:14, Ezekiel 36:23, Ezekiel 19:12-14, Ephesians 6:17-18, Matthew 5:8-9, John 14:12, Ephesians 4:30, Ezekiel 17:9-10, Hebrews 4:12