Answers
By Billy Graham • March 27, 2015 • Topics: Crucifixion
Q:
Why didn't Jesus flee once He knew His enemies were out to get Him, instead of openly appearing in public and almost daring them to arrest Him? This has always puzzled me.
A:
Almost from the beginning of His public ministry Jesus encountered opposition, and eventually it led to His death. However, during those years He did evade His enemies, because He knew it wasn’t God’s time for Him to die. On one occasion, He told His disciples, “My time has not yet fully come” (John 7:8).
Why, then, didn’t He flee during those final days? The reason is simple: He knew the time had come for Him to die. His death, however, would be no ordinary death, because through His death He would become the final and complete sacrifice for our sins. Jesus didn’t come into the world by accident, nor did He die by accident. He came into the world according to God’s plan, and His purpose was to provide the way for us to be saved.
You see, only one thing separates us from God, and that is our sin. Our greatest need, therefore, is to have our sins forgiven and cleansed, but how is this possible? The only way is for God to do it, and He made this possible by sending His Son into the world to die for us. The Bible says, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10).
During this Easter season, may you face honestly your own need for God’s forgiveness. Then may you turn to Christ and by faith trust Him alone for your salvation.
