“Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, n put him to death by nailing him to the cross.
Acts 2:22-23
The cross was not an accident! It was God’s purpose and plan for our Lord to go to the cross to redeem us from our sins. By God’s design, God gave His Son to be the savior of the world, which by necessity entailed Jesus to be “handed over” to His enemies. Peter writes “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake (1 Peter 1:18-20). The redemption of man was in the plan of God before the creation of the world. When I survey the wondrous cross I see God’s plan to restore and redeem man.
Toward the cross
Daily readings of the events of the leading up to the cross
• Reaction to cursing the fig tree on the way back to Jerusalem (Matt. 21:20-22; Mark 11:20-21)
• Debates with religious leaders in Jerusalem and teaching in the temple (Matt. 21:23—23:39; Mark 11:27—12:44)
• Eschatological Discourse on the Mount of Olives on the return to Bethany (Matt. 24:1—25:46; Mark 13:1-37)
Tags: Christ Jesus
Very succinct and so true. Too often people look at our Savior as a victim when all the while He was in control.