Jesus bled on His own free will
I love playing games, but I have to admit–I can be a sore loser.😏 I’ve gotten better with age, but I’m embarrassed to say that as a kid, there have been occasions where my defeat led to tears, screams and even board games flying through the room.🫣 One trick that helps when losing is telling myself (but never saying out loud), “Oh, I just let them win. I could’ve easily beat them, but I’ll let them have this one.” 🤪
In Jesus’ case, however, that is precisely what happened! When Jesus was captured and crucified, He wasn’t defeated; He didn’t lose.
“The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” – John 10:17-18
No one took Jesus’ life. He gave it.
He wasn’t overpowered, outsmarted, or trapped. Look at what happened when they came to arrest Him:
“Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am He,” Jesus said… When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” – John 18:4-6
Just three words—“I am He”—and an entire group of armed soldiers hit the ground.Why? Because those words weren’t just an introduction.They were the same words God spoke to Moses from the burning bush:
“I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14).
He revealed His divinity and the supernatural power that flowed out of Jesus when He said those words threw everyone around Him to the ground.
They couldn’t even capture Jesus, let alone kill Him!
As we are spending these two weeks leading up to Easter, remember this:Jesus didn’t lose His life. He laid it down—willingly, purposefully, for you.
