Through the combined perspectives of the four gospel records we can truly have a complete picture of the life and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew, Mark and Luke write from the perspective of the “son of Man”. John however, writes from the perspective of the “son of God”. Through their combined overview, we can fully appreciate the intricacy of God’s plan of salvation in Jesus Christ. In particular, we are given to witness his crucifixion in a raw, powerful, and ugly battle of human determination against the innocent yet humble son of God! Condemnation upon those responsible was incurred by their own declaration: Matthew 27:25 “His blood be on us and on our children”.
While those who had been entrusted to provide Godly instruction to the nation plotted to ‘destroy him’, Jesus complied to the will of his Father and “was led as a lamb to the slaughter”, Isaiah 53:7. He had committed his whole being to ‘love the Lord with all his heart and to love his neighbor as himself’ only to be brutalized and put to death.
WHY DID GOD ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN TO HIS SON?
If we have been paying attention, the whole process of what was to happen to the ‘Messiah’ was outlined thousands of years before! From Genesis to Malachi are revealed the circumstances that would be associated with the coming deliverer. When Jesus appeared, the leaders were too proud of their perceived position among the people. They missed or ignored the signs surrounding the ‘Messiah’, IE. that he would be born in Bethlehem, John 7:41; that he would suffer persecution, Isaiah 53; and be put to death for the sins of the people, Isaiah 53:10 et al. Most obvious, though, was their failure to hear the testimony of Jesus while on the cross! His outcry was a quote from the Psalms which they all would have been familiar with, and because they would not hear, these very words testified against them, Psalm 22:1,8,18 including such intricate detail such as the soldiers gambling for his clothing!
All Jews would have been familiar with the word of God, including the passages referring to the coming Messiah. Jesus too understood what lay before him, Psalm 40:6-8. Jesus wasn’t just a ‘willing sacrifice’, but he ‘delighted to do God’s will… from the heart!’ This is one reason why it is so vital that we understand the whole plan of God! Jesus, in his love for his Father, did not run away from what God demanded. Jesus knew the outcome would result in his own death. So it was, in his human condition, that he prayed desperately to his Father for the strength to endure the pending torture and death. Nevertheless, he embraced the words of the Psalmist: “Thy will be done” (God’s will), Matthew 26:42! God did hear, and an angel came to minister to him. This reaffirms the purpose that God established at creation when He created the man and woman “in his own image”, and commanded them to ‘be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it’.
Just as Abraham was willing to slay his son for God if required, Jesus love for his Father was absolute. He did what his Father asked! His obedience, which resulted in death, is the full measure of his trust and love for his Father. This is what God requires of us all!