Fear No Fear

“No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I received this command from My Father” (John 10:18, MEV). Abraham took his son Isaac and they went up a mountain. When he was there, Abraham bound his son and put him on the altar. Isaac was compliant in this. He was in agreement and obedient. Isaac was not a young child. He was an older teen at youngest and probably closer to thirty. Abraham couldn’t have forced him. Jesus was the same way. I have often heard the argument that someone refused to believe in God because what God would kill their own son. Well, Jesus was a VOLUNTEER. The Father did NOT force Jesus to go to the cross. Jesus had the idea and agreed to go through with it before Creation began (Revelation 13:8). And once Jesus came as a human, He had the CHOICE of whether to go through with it or not. He was given the power to lay down His life OR NOT. He was given the power to resurrect OR NOT. The Father was willing, but the ball was in Jesus’ court. Jesus did not get forced to die. Jesus died because He loved us. He could have not come. He could have not died. He could have not resurrected. Jesus chose to do all three. Because His compassion for US exceeded the downside to Him (Hebrews 12:2). It was OPTIONAL and He took that option out of love. He desired to have a relationship with you so much He did all three things. He chose it because He chose you.