X

Jesus (The Way of the Cross) Part 1

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you
1 Peter 1:19-20

Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him’. John 18:4

Where did ‘the way of the cross’ begin?

It is clear from the scripture that the Cross of Jesus was planed before the very foundations of the earth. In heaven the plan was made for the redemption of sinful people even before this earth was created. God had a plan and purpose for salvation and for having a people saved through the Blood of Jesus being in His Family for all eternity.

Just as Jesus knew that He face the cross and death. So God foreknows all who will come to Him for salvation and eternal life. Let’s not get caught up in theological debate but simply see the clear message of the scripture that Jesus knew He was going to the cross to shed His Blood for our redemption and that those who are saved and those to be saved are known to God from before the foundations of this world. Please read the following scriptures carefully.

Revelation 13:8
All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Hebrews 4:3
For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest,” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Ephesians 1:4-6
Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace,
by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved .

John 17:24
“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

Matthew 25:34
“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world

Matthew 13:35
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”

Acts 2:23
“Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;

The cross of Jesus was no surprise to the Father or to Jesus.

Matthew 26:1-2
Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples,
“You know that after two days is the Passover,
and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”

Matt 20:17-19
Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem ,
took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem , and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify.
And the third day He will rise again.’

Mark 10:32-34
Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem , and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him:
“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem
and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes;
and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.’

John 12:32-33
“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.’ This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

Jesus knew before the world was made that He faced the cross and the suffering for our sins.

Jesus knew while He was on earth that He was headed to the cross and dying for our sins. Yet He went on’¦! Glory.

Jesus knew all His life that He was headed to the cross. Note the scriptures above.

Now read the scripture following.

Matthew 26:36-45
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane , and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.”
And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.
Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to Peter, “What? Could you not watch with Me one hour?
“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand,
and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Mark 14:32-41

Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane ; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed.
then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.”
He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.
And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”
Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour?
“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit truly is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words.
And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him.
Then He came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Luke 22:39-46
Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives , as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.
When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed,
saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”
Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.
And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.
Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”
John 18:1-4

When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered.
And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples.
Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”

Oh I urge you to see Jesus going forward, facing the cross and all the humiliation, rejection and horror for you and for me.

Jesus knew the future but that did not alleviate the pain or the suffering. It only increased the suffering because Jesus carried this knowledge from before the foundations of the world through His life on earth. Truly Jesus is our sin bearer!

He endured the cross and all the suffering for you and me.

Note the following:

Hebrews 12:2-3
Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,
Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame,
and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself,
lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

Oh thank you Jesus for Your love and Your suffering for my sins and salvation. Thank you Jesus for wanting me in Your Family for all eternity.

I urge you to commit your life to Jesus, trusting Him as your Savior and Lord. Repent of your sins and receive Jesus today. Now is the time.

Follower of Jesus start sharing the message of redemption through the Blood of Jesus today. Now is the Time.

For the nest several weeks my columns will lead up to the cross and then to the resurrection of Jesus and to the days following.

My columns rest on the Word of God. My regular readers know I rest on the Bible and seek to make comments that empower us to live for Jesus in strength and victory.

God bless you,

Pilgrim followers of Jesus,

Arthur and Denise Blessitt

Luke 18:1