Jesus’ Passive Obedience

John 17:4 finds Jesus announcing to the Father that He had completed all the work He was sent to do.  BUT, He had not yet died in my stead!  How could Jesus say He was finished?  He could do so because He had finished the active will portion of His ministry – those things that He had to make happen.  The part remaining was His passive will in that He was going to let men, Satan, and God do to Him their pleasure.

From His arrest to His death:

His passive will submitted to mankind’s will which is full of anger and evil toward God…

1. This was first the rejection and flight of those near to Him – Judas, the 12 (John 16), the 3 sleeping when asked to join Him in prayer, they fleeing, and Peter’s denying any association.
2. God allowed Satan more rope (as with Job 1:12). Jesus noted, John 14:30, “This is your hour of power.”
3. His religion – Judaism – they beat and buffeted, mocked and pulled hair, rejected and brutalized Him.
4. The very government that He had allowed and maintained (nations rise and fall, kings rule by His will) – Pilate and Rome – exercised their wrath toward Him by flogging and crucifying Him.
5. Mankind’s rejection.  The people shouted, “Away with Him,” and they were heard.  He was crucified publicly along a major highway and subjected to shame and contempt – naked and accused as a terrible criminal.  He suffered insults and mockery.
6. Then those also perishing – the one on the cross demanded rights, saw God as unjust, and was hard/bitter to the end.  [Yet, there were a few who repented, confessed, and sought Him as Savior – the other one crucified that day.]
7. He died – “Into Your hands”.  He was human and entered into the death of humanity.

Secondly, His passive will submitted to God’s will, which was to take God’s just wrath due rebels, enemies, and sinners.  From noon to three, He paid the sin price due to God that men might be saved.

From Noon to 3 PM, He experienced Hell:

1. He took God’s just punishment for sins of commission, omission, thought and look
2. It was dark – God, Who is light, looked away
3. There was no dialogue – no talk with those crucified or with those watching
4. He said, “I thirst.” – physical agony
5. It was bottomless – heaving, up and down, no bounds, no rest day or night
6. He cried out, “Why have you forsaken Me?”

       God – the source of joy, peace, love, hope, and beauty – now absent.

Lastly, He declared, “It is Finished!”  The eternal payment was made!  For those who bow before Him in brokenness and shame and ask that He forgive them and receive them, He can not only cleanse them but adopt them and take them to live in glorious perfection with Him forever.  Hallelujah!