Jesus chose to come for us…
In Hebrews 12 we find a familiar verse that we often quote: “for the joy that was set before Him [Jesus] endured the cross.”1 The idea is that the Lord Jesus endured the sufferings of the cross because there was a reward of joy set before Him. This interpretation is based on the use of the word “for.” He endured suffering “for” the joy that He would receive. However, the word translated “for” in most English translations is the Greek preposition “anti,” and it actually means “instead of.”2 In other words, Jesus traded the joy and the glory that He already possessed in the bosom of the Father before the world was even created for the shame He would endure on the cross when He received all of our sin. The reason He is our great Hero is because “instead of” the joy He already had in the Father, He received the humiliation and death that we deserved. It was His choice to die for us!
“Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me.’” (Hebrews 10:5)3
Jesus became human. Why? Because as God He could not die. Jesus was born as a human the same way we are born, however, instead of being conceived by the seed of a mortal man with sinful flesh, He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. Jesus’ blood came straight from heaven from His Father. His blood was holy, royal, sinless, and divine. That’s why His blood can save us and wash our sins whiter than snow.
Jesus came in a real body prepared for Him. He shed real blood, experienced real pain, cried real tears, and died a real death.
“[Jesus] made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:7-8, brackets mine)
In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus struggled with extreme pressure and even sweat drops of blood, but not because He didn’t want to endure the physical sufferings for us. He knew why He came and He was willing. No one murdered Him because it was His choice to lay down His life for us. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit were all in agreement: this suffering must take place for it to be possible for us to be sinless and reconciled to the Trinity.
“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes 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.” (John 10:17-18)
(from pages 311-312 of Unveiling Jesus)
Want more from Tricia Gunn? Check out excerpts from the Unveiling Jesus 20-part series!
Unveiling Jesus, by Tricia Gunn, is a verse by verse study of the pure gospel of grace. It’s an amazing journey of love, identity, and freedom in Christ.
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1Hebrews 12:2
2G473 (anti), Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, website: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G473&t=KJV, accessed 6-19-14
3All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
