Octavius Winslow wrote,
“Who delivered up Jesus to die? Not Judas, for money; not Pilate, for fear; not the Jews, for envy; -but the Father, for love!” … On the human level, Judas gave Him up to the priests, who gave Him up to Pilate, who gave Him up to the soldiers, who crucified Him. But on the divine level, the Father gave Him up, and He gave Himself up, to die for us. As we face the cross, then, we can say to ourselves both “I did it, my sins sent Him there” and “He did it, His love took Him there.”
In the quiet of Good Friday, I’m just thinking about Jesus. I’m obsessed with Him. It’s not just that He is an actual person and historical figure, but I believe He truly is who He said He was. He’s not only pivotal to human history, but revolutionary to the human condition. I hope/wish that the incarnation would be alive in people’s hearts all year round (including mine), and that the cross would be paramount on people’s minds all year round (including mine), so that His redeeming work and resurrection would keep us in awe every day. Come Holy Spirit.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2