The self sacrifice of Christ

The self sacrifice of Christ

John 10 v 17,18

It is clear from the very beginning that God the Son coming in human flesh was an act of self sacrifice. The Son in agreement with the Father willingly consented to take human nature into association with His divine nature to be a Saviour of sinners.

However, in the verse above we see He also willingly consented to die. Jesus all along was aware of the fact He had come to die.

He said as the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness, He was to be lifted up. Jesus told His disciples beforehand that He was going to be put to death by crucifixion, so it was no surprise to Him that this happened. Jesus death on the cross as an atoning sacrifice for sin would have no value if He hadn't willingly given Himself to it or if He had been the feeble victim of an enormous wrong.

Jesus knowing all that lay before Him, knowing the horror of suffering for sin which would involve Him being forsaken by the Father who eternally loved Him, He freely and willingly laid down His life for us. We often say after going through terrible things, if I had known beforehand I would have avoided that. Jesus knowing the enormity of suffering for sins, He went through it for our sakes.

"He loved me, and gave Himself for me."

(Galatians 2 v 20)