By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

The Road He Chose

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“The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”
Luke 24:7 New International Version

The words in our Bible verse are spoken by Jesus to the two disciples on the way to Emmaus, the very day of His resurrection.  Do you notice what Jesus says about His suffering and death and resurrection?  He says that He (the Son of Man) must be delivered over to the hands of sinners.  Why does He say “must be”?  Jesus did not have to go to the cross, to die for ungrateful sinners like you and me.  He could have chosen to stay in heaven, to not go down the road of suffering and grief and pain and humiliation.  No one forced Him to bear the cross.

But in a very real sense, because God loves you and me, Jesus had to suffer for us.  For His love compelled Him and moved Him to give Himself for you and me.  It would have been unthinkable for Jesus to not die for us, for it would have meant denying who He is, God’s Love come down for us.  From the beginning of time, God has loved you and wanted you to be with Him in perfect fellowship forever.

So…. the sacrifice had to be made.  The sin offering had to be offered up.  Jesus would go before Pilate, be condemned to death, be beaten, humiliated, whipped, implanted with a crown of thorns, forced to carry His cross.  He would be nailed to the cross, cry out in forsakenness, forgive His enemies, finish the course and commit Himself to the Father.  He would die for you and me and would rise on the third day.

He must do this.  For His love compelled Him.  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son….”

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado