Matthew 26:51-54

After Judas betrayed Jesus into the hands of his enemies, a disciple of Jesus drew his sword to come to the defense of his Lord. Jesus rebuked him. “How then,” Jesus said, “would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

Jesus knew his Father’s plan for him. His arrest, his suffering, his condemnation, and his death were all part of his Father’s plan. It was the Savior’s mission to carry out faithfully every part of that plan to redeem and reclaim us all. Earlier that same evening in the garden, Jesus expressed his determination to proceed. “Not my will, but yours be done,” he prayed (Luke 22:42). He made no attempt to hide or flee when he heard his enemies coming—in fact, he went to meet them. He resisted the idea of summoning thousands of angels for his defense. When the soldiers said they were seeking Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus identified himself to them.

Jesus wasn’t focused on what was going to happen to him. He was focused on what would happen to us if he didn’t fulfill his Father’s plan for saving people from eternal death. His perfect love was focused on the eternal life with God that had to be won for us by his sacrifice. Even death on a cross could not make him change that focus. No way was he going to let us down.