Was Jesus Christ murdered, or did He willingly offer His life? This question goes beyond mere theology, touching on the very essence of sacrifice, love, and redemption.
Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Jesus, in His final moments on the cross, commends His spirit into the hands of the Father. This pivotal moment signifies not a life taken by force but one willingly laid down. No man took Jesus’ life; He chose to give it up, fulfilling the divine commandment from His Father.
John 10:17–18 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
This statement highlights Jesus’s power and authority over His own life and death, underscoring His role as both the sacrificial lamb and the triumphant victor over death.
By becoming sin for us, Jesus made it possible for us to attain the righteousness of God by believing in His work of redemption. This exchange—His life for our eternal life—is the cornerstone of Christian faith and the essence of the gospel message.
Devotional by Pastor Rod Holler, Sr.