There are two incidents in the gospel of John that so clearly convey the singleness of focus and purpose of Jesus. He was walking directly toward the cross – each step carefully calculated to bring Him there.
The first incident is found in John 6:15. “Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make Him king by force, withdrew.” He had every right to be king. He had every right to be acknowledged by His own people as their Sovereign and Lord. But Scripture tells us He withdrew; He walked away from all that was rightfully His. They wanted to crown Him king, but He knew that another crown awaited Him – a crown made up of thorns that would rip into his skull and evoke mocking and ridicule. And yet He withdrew from the easier crown in obedience to His Father’s will.
We find another incident that also begins with much the same words. In John 18:4 we read, “Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to Him, went out…” This time He didn’t withdraw, He went out, or as the King James Version puts it, He “stepped forward.” Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to Him – the betrayals, the beatings, the agony of the cross – didn’t withdraw, but stepped forward.
Jesus withdrew from what was rightfully His, and stepped forward to what was rightfully ours. I don’t know how this affects you, but it leaves me overwhelmed with love and worship.
“Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.”
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