Lesson 6

The Jews hungered for the messiah to come and rescue them from their oppressors. They longed for the promised physical redemption God had made to their patriarchs. They took careful note of any miracle that might lead them to their messiah. Jesus knew his rejection and death at the hands of the Jewish authorities was the only way to bring salvation to the world. The true messianic miracle was not completing the messianic miracles, but completing all the messianic miracles the Jews had set out to perform, and still be rejected by them as their messiah. Just as God hardened Pharaoh’s heart to not free the Isrealites from captivity, God hardened the Jewish leader’s hearts to reject Jesus. Rather than remain silent, Jesus often spoke to the Jews provokingly, condemning himself in their eyes. Knowing the Romans would be the instrument of his death, Jesus defiantly questioned the authoritarian ruler Pontius Pilot’s ability to govern. Jesus told him God alone had authority over world events. Jesus knew that if he wanted, he could ask and God would free him from harm. Totally focused on doing the father’s will over his own and ready to die for humanities sins, it was the love of Jesus that kept him on the cross, not the nails. Do you think Jesus orchestrated his own death by manipulating those in power to fulfill Bible prophecies? Did Jesus want to die?

John 10:33-36 GOD’S WORD Translation
33 The Jews answered Jesus, “We’re going to stone you to death, not for any good things you’ve done, but for dishonoring God. You claim to be God, although you’re only a man.” 34 Jesus said to them, “Don’t your Scriptures say, ‘I said, “You are gods” ’? 35 The Scriptures cannot be discredited. So if God calls people gods (and they are the people to whom he gave the Scriptures), 36 why do you say that I’m dishonoring God because I said, ‘I’m the Son of God’? God set me apart for this holy purpose and has sent me into the world.

John 19:10-11 International Children’s Bible
10 Pilate said, “You refuse to speak to me? Don’t you know that I have power  to set you free and power to have you killed on a cross?” 11 Jesus answered, “The only power you have over me is the power given to you by God. The man who gave me to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

Matthew 26:52-54 New Matthew Bible
2 Then said Jesus to him, Put your sword back in its sheath. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think I cannot now pray to my Father, and he would send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled? For this is how it must be.

John 6:38 King James Version
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.