Jesus not only knew His enemies were going to try to kill Him—but He knew they would succeed. Shortly before going to Jerusalem for the last time He told His disciples, “They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified” (Matthew 20:18-19).

But in spite of this, Jesus courageously went forward—and paid for it with His life. Why didn’t He flee? Was it because He had some kind of a twisted martyr complex, hoping His death might make Him a hero? Did He hope that at the last minute God would intervene and rescue Him, the way He rescued Abraham’s son Isaac many centuries before (see Genesis 22)? Did He even believe He could persuade the crowds to defend Him and avert His death?

No, none of these were true. Instead, Jesus went forward for one reason: He knew it was God’s plan for Him to die. And He knew it was God’s plan because by His death He would become the final sacrifice for the sins of the whole human race.

You and I have sinned, and we deserve only God’s judgment. But God loves us, and on the cross all our sins were placed on Christ, and He died in our place. God loves you that much! Have you responded to His love by repenting of your sins and trusting Him as your Savior? Do so today, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18).