God sent His Son into the world that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:17). The salvation Jesus provided was salvation from sin, and its eternal consequences. He died on the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of all who will believe in Him. The story of how God delivered His Son into the hands of the authorities to be crucified is told in the final chapters of Luke’s gospel as well as those of Matthew, Mark and John. The things sinful men did to Jesus were unjust, even criminal, but we must remember that everything that was done to Him was predetermined by God. Peter said of Christ, “Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death” (Acts 2:23), and “to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done” (Acts 4:28). Even Jesus Himself said concerning His own destiny, “For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. 33 “They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.” (Luke 18:32-33). To have a friend betray Him (Luke 22:21-22), to have His disciples deny and forsake Him (22:31-34, 54-62; cp. Mat.26:35&56), and to be tried unfairly by His own people as well as the Romans (Mat.26:57-68; Luke 23:1-25) were no doubt heart-wrenching experiences for the Son of God. And yet all the things He endured were determined beforehand by His Father. It was the betrayal of Judas that started the ball rolling toward His death, and resurrection. At the last supper, just after He broke the news to His disciples that one of them would betray Him, He said, “And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” (Luke 22:22).
Let us also remember that what Jesus endured, He endured for us!
He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God (1 Peter 1:20-21).
