Jesus' Approach to the Cross: the Preparation, the Anguish & the Betrayals
In these chapters, Jesus travels the ‘way of the cross’ (8:34-38) towards his death - now imminent. While he arrived in Jerusalem to the cheer of the crowd, welcomed as king, by the end of our passage this week he will be abandoned, isolated, and condemned - betrayed even by those closest to him. But this is no lost cause - Jesus goes with purpose, knowing that his blood poured out will be the blood of the covenant - paying the ransom price for sins (10:45) and enabling relationship with God for many. For this reason, he is able to endure the shame and scorn of betrayal, and is able to go ahead to the cross in obedience to God - despite its deep anguish. As we read, we are shocked by the lengths Jesus went to in order to redeem us, and we see the depths of his suffering. Jesus’ obedience and loyalty to his Father inspires us to walk in the same way through our own suffering as we follow him on the way of the cross.
