Jesus, the Christ: Death of, Voluntary

I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.

Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed. It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.”

Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”

“Abba, Father,” He said, “all things are possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.”

Again He went away and prayed, saying the same thing.

As the day of His ascension approached, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!

And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before My suffering.

“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again.

No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. Jesus said, “I am He.” And Judas His betrayer was standing there with them.

“I told you that I am He,” Jesus replied. “So if you are looking for Me, let these men go.”

“Put your sword back in its sheath!” Jesus said to Peter. “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?”

Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin.”

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.

Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.

Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.