Answers

By   •   March 18, 2010   •   Topics:

Q:

Why did Jesus deliberately put Himself in harm's way during His last days? Why didn't He withdraw somewhere and be safe, instead of risking His life by going out in public and giving the authorities the opportunity to arrest Him?


A:

Jesus had every opportunity to do exactly what you suggested He do: withdraw from public view and go into hiding. And at times He did exactly that (e.g., John 11:54), because it wasn’t yet God’s time for Him to make His final appearances.

But Jesus refused to avoid the terrible events that lay before Him, and at the right time (according to God’s plan) He deliberately went up to Jerusalem to be arrested, put on trial, and condemned to death. He knew in advance this would happen; months before He told His disciples that “the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified” (Matthew 20:18-19).

And yet He still went on, refusing to take an easier path. Why? The reason may be hard for you to understand — but He did it because this was God’s will for Him. You see, Jesus Christ came into the world for one main reason: to become the final and perfect sacrifice for our sins. We deserve to suffer God’s judgment for our sins — but on the cross Jesus Christ took upon Himself the judgment we deserve.

During this Easter season, thank God every day for His love for you — a love so great that He was willing to send His Son into the world to die for you. And just as He gave His life for you, so give your life to Him without delay.