THE INTENTIONAL KING

Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself  by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8).

No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on my own initiative, I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.  This commandment I received from My Father (John 10:18, Jesus is speaking of His life,).

Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, "What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs.  If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation" ( John 11:47-48)

As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, "If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar." (John 19:12).

Therefore when Jesus had receive the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!"  And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit (John 19:30).

The Scripture references cited above are only a few of many that could have been cited about the intention of Jesus.  Jesus was not a victim of circumstances!  Bill O'Reilly's Killing Jesus will be aired on national television on Palm Sunday evening.  O'Reilly has done a fine job of setting forth the religious, social and political dynamics of the time of Jesus the Christ, but it would be a mistake to conclude that Jesus was a victim.  He knew from the beginning where His ministry would take Him. He knew how His triumphal entry into Jerusalem would be interpreted because He directed it.   He knew how the zealots, the Herodians, the Sadducee's, the Pharisees and the Romans would react to His ministry, but He did not change course.*  Each faction played a part in killing Jesus.  It also must be understood that Jesus' death on the cross was not a great tragedy, but the greatest blessing we will ever receive because He paid the price for our sins!  That was the primary purpose of His ministry and the reason He could say, It is finished!

Our Father's Love,
Tom

*Relatively early in Jesus' ministry, Mark chapter 3 records a Sabbath healing, the pre-planning of how to kill Jesus had begun.  Jesus continued on undeturred, knowing his hour had not come and his work was unfinished.  Jesus laid down his life when the time was right and his work was finished.