Jesus chose the cross. He could have turned back at any moment. He could have called down armies of angels. He could have ascended to heaven. He could have escaped the torture of the crucifixion. But He chose the cross. For the sins of the world.
Jesus knew. His whole life. He knew what He came to do. The sheer brutality of the cross was never lost on Him. Matthew 26 is such a powerful representation of this. Jesus is reclining at the table for what would be the Last Supper. Reclining in relationship with those he loved the most in this world. The whole time, he knew. He knew Judas had already sold his life for thirty pieces of silver as he sat across from him. He handed his betrayer his body broken and blood spilled in bread and wine. He was offering him relationship until the very end.
As he sat across from his best friend, he always knew that Peter would deny him. Three times he would claim to not even have met him. He knew Peter would curse him and be angry at the mere mention of association with him. He knew his disciples would desert him and flee in the garden. He knew they would fall asleep in his garden moments of agony over and over again. He knew Peter would only follow him to the courtyard at a distance.
And yet He saved them. Even then, He went to the cross. Because that is who Jesus is. And that’s His heart for you. It’s what it’s always been. The Lord remains the same throughout all time. Psalms 106 is a psalms of “yet He saved them.” The Lord has always been saving us – no matter how far we run, how hard we deny him, or how much we betray him. He is faithful to save us. His love for us is so great that nothing could keep Him off that cross. And His power is so great that nothing could keep Him in that grave. Despite your biggest shortcomings and greatest attempts at failure, He saves.
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