He Chose the Cross

Bible Readings

• Matthew 26:53
• Matthew 27:11–14
• Matthew 27:24
• Matthew 27:54

Reflection

Jesus stood before Pilate, yet no wrong could be found in Him. The crowd, however, chose differently. They called for a guilty and violent man to be released instead, and demanded that Jesus be crucified.

Pilate himself knew Jesus was innocent. He even washed his hands before the crowd, saying he was not responsible for what would happen. Yet still, Jesus was handed over.

The guilty went free, and the innocent was condemned.

Jesus could have saved Himself.

He told His disciples that He could ask His Father, and a host of angels would come to rescue Him. He was not powerless.

When questioned at His trial, Jesus could have defended Himself. Yet often He remained silent, or gently affirmed the truth about who He was.

He chose not to resist.
He chose obedience to His Father.
He chose the cross.

Jesus came to rescue us from a problem we could not fix ourselves. The wrong things we say and do place distance between us and God. We cannot bridge that gap on our own.

So Jesus chose to die — to take the consequences of our wrongdoing, so that all who trust in Him can be forgiven and brought near to God.

As Jesus hung on the cross, the sky turned dark and the earth shook. The centurion, watching all that happened, realised who Jesus was and said:

“Truly this was the Son of God.”

Even at the cross, eyes were opened.

And still today, we are invited to see — and to trust.

Prayer

Father,
Thank You that Jesus chose the cross.
Thank You that He did not resist, but walked in obedience to You.
Thank You that through Him, forgiveness and new life are offered to us.

Open our eyes to see who Jesus truly is.
Help us to trust Him, and to follow where He leads.

Amen.