“The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” (John 10:17–18, NIV 1984).
My Musings – Yes, God “gave his one and only Son” as a sacrifice for our sins. Many critics of the Gospel will claim that this was barbaric. Failing to take into account that Jesus “[laid] it down of [His] own accord,” knowing full well that He had the “authority to take it up again.” It was not barbaric; it was rare selflessness. For we are all sinners. “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:7–8, NIV 1984).
As Jesus was being arrested, He said “do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53, NIV 1984). Yet He did not make that call.
As He stood before Pilate, He said “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” (John 19:11, NIV 1984). And it was given.
As He hung on the cross, the chief priests and teachers of the law said, “He saved others, but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now.” (Mathew 27:41–43, NIV 1984). But He did not save Himself, even though He had the authority to do so.
My Advice – “He [did trust] in God,” His Father. Not to rescue Him but to resurrect Him. “Because [He would] not abandon [Him] to the grave, nor [would He] let [His] Holy One see decay.” (Psalm 16:10, NIV 1984). And for those of us who trust in Him will not abandon either. That’s all it takes to “let God rescue [us] now.” Jesus died so He could.
The Brew Is A Musing 