He had a way out but didn’t take it. It was the greatest selfless act of all time!

I want to share with you about a man who had a way out but didn’t take it.  He could have ended the pain and death that was to come but didn’t.  He could be labeled by some as a hero.  In my opinion, selfless is a much better description of this man.

The day drawing to a close.  The men were getting hungry and so a few went forward to find a place to dine.  The two men who went ahead found a man carrying a jar of water and followed him home.  They received permission from the owner to set up their meal upstairs.  They were happy to be resting and enjoying a meal.  The conversation that evening was almost exactly what you would expect from a gathering of men.  They talked about the food and drink.  Weapons were mentioned at least one time along with cloaks.  Blood was brought up as well.  A few of the men even bantered back and forth about who was the greatest among them.  It seemed to be another day in the life of these men.  But they soon realized that was not the case for the one who had been leading them.  He let the group know that the time for a trial and death was near.  There was a vow of support and defense, but they will learn later that this was merely talk.  The men left the house following their leader.

He led them up to some nearby hills to spend some time alone.  He did this routinely and the other men followed as normal.  They found a place to stop.  The leader among them, the one who was soon to be on trial, stepped away from the group to be alone.  He needed to spend time with the one thing that could get them out of this situation.  He pleaded for release from the impending trial and death.  His eyes welled up with tears under the weight of what was to come.  He knew there was a way out and this was the chance for it to happen.  Everything could be stopped immediately.  The burden this leader was about to take on could have been lifted in many, many ways.  But alas, it was already planned and needed to play out accordingly.  He got up from the ground and headed back to the men who were supposed to be watching guard.  He was greatly disappointed when they were found asleep instead of keeping watch.  So much for the vow of support and defense to the death.  The men left that place and soon their leader was arrested.  There was no fighting in defense to the death.  The leader wouldn’t even allow the swords to be used.  He went in peace and the men who had been together for the last few years scattered.  A trial was held shortly after the arrest.  Death by crucifixion was the ruling.  He hung on the cross, was overcome by the sins of the world, and died.  It was finished!  His time on earth was over.

If you did not pick up on it, these are the events of Jesus found in Luke 22-23 from the last supper leading up to the crucifixion.  He was surrounded by a group of men who vowed to fight to the death to defend Him.  He was also Jesus, the Son of God.  God and Jesus had the power to stop this entire process from occurring.  They could have cleansed the earth of sin in many ways, but Jesus chose to die for us instead.  He had a way out, but He did not take it.  Jesus laid His life down for you and me.  He died sinless upon the cross so that we can one day live with Him in Heaven.  To me this was the greatest selfless act of all time! 

This coming weekend we get to celebrate Easter!  Easter is the day we get to rejoice, not in the death of Jesus, but in His resurrection after defeating death!  The greatest selfless act of all time culminated with a resurrection!  Will you join me this coming Sunday for this celebration?  We can gather in praise and shout to the rooftops that “HE IS RISEN!”