Reading: John 18
Jesus was not of this world. He was superior to this world. He made a choice to care about this world, and most importantly, to care about the inhabitants of this world. He knew that this world was tragically fallen. He knew that mankind was enslaved and deceived. He knew that unless He suffered and endured torment and persecution, all would be lost. I would be lost. You would be lost.
Jesus knew what would happen. Jesus knew what He had to do...for you....and for me. Jesus resolved to see it through. He could have run away, hidden himself, made an escape plan. But instead, he made himself easy to find. He went to the garden he frequently spent time in. He walked freely toward his accusers. “Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”” (v4)
He could have protected himself. He had ultimate power at his disposal. When Jesus said “ I am he”, the original text actually indicates that he addressed himself as “ I am”. He knew that he had divine power and perhaps he allowed them to glimpse some of that. “When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” (v6). In Matthew we are told that when Peter cut off the ear of the soldier that Jesus informed Peter that he didn’t need his intervention because he had all power at his disposal. ““Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?””
(Matthew 26:52-54)
Jesus was not sent to this world to physically rule over it. As God, he certainly was entitled to that but it was not his mission. “Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”” (v36) Our home, if we are children of God, is also not of this world. Instead of seeking earthly recognition and gain, our focus should also be on the eternal rewards and glory that await us.
Jesus committed himself to surrender to God’s plan of salvation. He knew and trusted that God was in control. He knew it was the only way to bring the fallen human race back into fellowship with God. He knew that his purpose was to bring “Truth” to a world cloaked in deception, to be the “Light of the World”, that could pierce through the dark recesses of man’s heart and free his soul. He determined this cause to be worth the cost. ““You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”” (v37)
And then Pilate asked the most important question man can ask....”What is truth?” (v38). Have you asked that question? Have you recognized that Jesus offers that truth to you? He suffered willingly. He died intentionally. He did it so that we could have truth penetrate into our inner being and set us free from the deception of sin and evil. He did it out of the deepest love imaginable. He did it for you. He did it for me.
For an interesting read: if you are familiar with the song ‘He Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels”, this is about the writer of that song and about how he was saved by the penetrating truth of his own song. http://dianaleaghmatthews.com/called-ten-thousand-angels/#.X3ks0y1q3mo