Matthew 26:36–27:1,11-26; Mark 14:32–15:15; Luke 22:31-62,66–23:25; John 18:1-11,15-40
Did you know that firefighters train for months and go through rigorous exercises so they can run into burning buildings instead of away from them? While it sounds super scary, firefighters do this because they believe saving others is more important than their own comfort—and even important enough to put their own lives at risk.
When Jesus was arrested, He hadn’t done anything wrong. He had obeyed God perfectly. Still, soldiers came at night and took Him away. During Jesus’s trial, people told lies about Him, made fun of Him, and treated Him like a criminal. Jesus could have stopped it at any moment. He is God’s Son and has all power. But He didn’t fight back.
Jesus endured it all because He viewed saving people like us as more important than His own comfort. Providing salvation for sinners was even important enough for Jesus to willingly give up His life for us. The Bible teaches that our sins separate us from God. Sin is when we disobey God with our thoughts, words, or actions.
The punishment for sin is serious, but Jesus stepped in and took that punishment for us. Even though He was innocent, He took our place. Jesus didn’t run away from suffering—He obeyed His Father and walked straight into it—because He loves you.
Jesus followed God’s plan because He loves us. Jesus took the punishment for our sins even though He did nothing wrong. Jesus died on the cross and rose again so that everyone who trusts Him can be forgiven and have new life forever with God.
Pray: Jesus, thank You for enduring sadness and pain. We know all of this was God’s plan. Thank you for following God’s plan so salvation could come to all who believe in You! Amen.
