Jesus Christ was perfect, sinless, God-in-the-flesh when He:
Allowed them to take Him into custody, falsely accuse Him, mock Him, spit on Him and torture
Him
Carried the cross and walked to Calvary
Allowed them to nail Him to the cross
Allowed them to crucify Him

Why would He do that?
John tells us the answer is love in chapter 15:
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Paul tells us the answer is God’s solution to our sin problem
Romans 3:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Matthew records Jesus’ decision in chapter 26:
50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.
52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

Note: a Roman legion is approximately 6,000 men but there is uncertainty whether surgeons and clerks were included in this number

He could have called ten thousand angels- Ray Overholt, 1924
They bound the hands of Jesus in the garden where He prayed
They led Him thru the streets in shame-They spat upon the Savior so pure and free from sin
They said, “crucify Him: He’s to blame

Chorus
He could have called ten thousand angels To destroy the world and set Him free
He could have called ten thousand angels But He died alone, for you and me
Upon His precious head they placed a crown of thorns
They laughed and said, “Behold the king”
They struck Him and they cursed Him and mocked His holy name
All alone He suffered everything

When they nailed Him to the cross, His mother stood nearby,
He said, “Woman, behold thy son!”
He cried, “I thirst for water,” but they gave Him none to drink
Then the sinful work of man was done

To the howling mob He yielded: He did not for mercy cry
The cross of shame He took alone
And when he cried, “It’s finished,” He gave himself to die
Salvation’s wondrous plan was done

Listen with pictures- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R16ICkDks
Questions for reflection

1) As you consider the choice Jesus made what are your thoughts?

2) What difference does the choice of Jesus mean to you?

3) Do you feel loved today?

Hebrews 12:
1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let us run with patience the race He has set before us looking unto Jesus,
Coach Patti