The Bible Says

Jesus Knowingly Took Several Steps That Led To Calvary
by Charlie Grier
 

  1. HE SUBDUED HIS OWN WILL (Mark 14:36; Luke 22: 44).
  2. HE YIELDED TO THE FATHER’S WILL (Matt. 26:39).
  3. He declared Himself to be SON OF GOD (Matt. 26:64).
  4. He told the ruling monarch HE WAS A KING (John 18:33).
  5. He claimed to be more powerful THAN ROME (John 19:11).
  6. He claimed POWER OVER LIFE AND DEATH (John 10:18).
  7. He said He could call 12 LEGIONS of angels (Matt: 26:53)
    • Note, At that time a Legion could be 300,000 to 600,000, so He could have called as many as 3,600,000 angels.
  8. He said He would RISE FROM THE DEAD (Matt. 17:9).

He Was Honored At The Transfiguration

“Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him ” (Matt. 17:1-3).

‘While he (Peter) was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matt.17:5).

Two Possible Reasons For The Transfiguration

  1. Three men who would later become church leaders saw Christ that day in His glorified body. Consequently God’s people got a new appreciation of the glories of Heaven that day. Later it was revealed that, at the Rapture, all of the redeemed will receive glorified bodies, “Conformed to His glorious body” (Phil. 3:21).

  2. Although Christ was GOD, He also was MAN. He was sinless, but He was still human. Because He was human He needed a little encouragement when facing the cross of Calvary. Moses and Elijah had both faced extreme tests during their lifetime. Moses faced his greatest test just before his death, when he was told he could not enter the “Promised Land.” Elijah faced his greatest test following his greatest victory! These two men talked with Jesus and ignored the other three. No doubt their words encouraged our Lord as He faced the Cross and all the other sufferings associated with it.

Christ Was Insulted Twelve Times Prior To The Cross

  1. BETRAYED by a close associate.
    • “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I deliver Him to you? And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver’” (Matthew 26:14-15).
    • Note -- Jesus knew Judas would betray Him -- still He addressed him as “friend” (Matt. 26:50). The Psalmist called Judas “a familiar friend” (Ps. 41:9; 55:12,13).
  2. He was tried by Annas (John 18:12-14, 19-24}.
  3. He was tried by Caiaphis (Matt. 26: 57-68).
  4. He was tried by the Sanhedrin (Matt. 27:1).
    • Note — The Sanhedrin was composed of 70 Jewish members carefully selected and given power to enforce the Jewish law. It was always presided over by the high priest. When Jesus was tried, Caiaphis was high priest.
  5. He was denied three times by Peter (Matt. 58-69).
  6. He was tried three times by Roman Kings:
    • First Pilate (Matt. 27:2,11-14).
    • Then Herod (Luke 23:6-12).
    • Back to Pilate (Luke 23:11).
  7. He was mocked by Herod (Luke 23:11).
  8. A crown of thorns was put on His head (Matt. 27:29).
  9. They scourged Him (Matt. 27:26; Isa. 50:6).
  10. The multitudes chose Barabbas (Matt.27:21).
  11. They struck Him with their hands (John 19:3).
  12. They spit in His face (Matt. 26:67)

The Perfect Sacrifice

The law had proven to be incapable of conquering sin. Then in Psalm 40, Christ declared He would become the perfect atonement for sin. This was His first step leading to the Cross.

Hebrews 10:1-10

“For the law having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshippers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.

“But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats could take away sins.

“Therefore when He (Christ) came into the world, He said: ‘sacrifices and offerings You did not desire, but a BODY you have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and peace offerings for sin you had no pleasure.

“Then said, ‘Behold, I have come -- In the volume of the book it is written of Me -- to do Your will O God.’ “

“Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offerings, offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), then He said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Thy will O God.” “He takes away the first that He might establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus once for all.’”

God Had To Become Man

“Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren” (Heb. 2:17).