Was Jesus Killed Or Did He Willingly Give Up His Life?

 

In John 10:14-18 Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own and my own know Me. Just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So, there will be one flock, one Shepherd. For this reason, the Father loves Me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes if from Me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Jesus declared in several passages that He would be killed by His enemies (Matthew 16:22; 17:23; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22).

So, which is true? Jesus laying down His life or was He killed? The answer is both. Jesus was killed because he laid down His life. It was according to the Father’s will – to lay down His life and take it up again. Generally speaking, people that are killed are not laying down their lives willingly unless they are sacrificing it for the benefit of another; like a loved one, or like brave soldiers in war.

I point this matter out to defend against anyone that would say Jesus is contradicting Himself. Jesus was not confused when He said no one takes My life from Me. There were several occasions when the religious leaders wanted to kill Him, but each time He would escape. Why? Because His time had not yet come (Luke 4:24-30; John 7:30; 8:58-59).

Jesus’ time came in John 17 when He prays to the Father. He gives thanks to God for allowing Him to fulfill His mission on earth.

The very end of His mission is when He is crucified and requests the Father receive His spirit (John 19:30). Jesus declares, “It is finished.” Meaning sin’s debt had been fully paid through His blood.