THURSDAY
When we are looking for examples of courage in Scripture, we find none better than Jesus himself.
Luke 18:31–33 (NIV) 31 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32 He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; 33 they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”
This was the third time Jesus had told his disciples he would be crucified in Jerusalem. It’s clear he knew what awaited him in Jerusalem and yet he “set his face towards Jerusalem.” (Lk. 9:51) This idiom, “set his face,” carries the idea of resolute or firmness of purpose. It is a great image of courage—setting your face towards God’s purpose no matter the cost.
Jesus had seen the gruesome, cruel torture of crucified criminals. He knew the pain that awaited him. As John Stott quotes Dr. David Smith in The Cross of Christ,
"A death by crucifixion seems to include all that pain and death can have of the horrible and ghastly—dizziness, cramp, thirst, starvation, sleeplessness, traumatic fever, shame, publicity of shame, long continuance of torment, horror of anticipation, mortification of untended wounds—all intensified just up to the point at which they can be endured at all, but stopping just short of the point which would give the sufferer the relief of unconsciousness."
The Roman crucifixion he says was “probably the most cruel method of execution ever practiced, for it deliberately delayed death until maximum torture had been inflicted.” Jesus knew what awaited him and he still rode into Jerusalem on that donkey on Palm Sunday. We see the agony of Jesus as he prays in the Garden of Gethsemane:
Luke 22:39–44 (NIV) 39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Jesus was in such anguish that he was sweating drops of blood. This is a condition called hematidrosis where the tiny blood vessels that feed the sweat glands rupture from extreme emotional or physical stress. Jesus was facing the extreme burden of the physical stress that awaited him. He was also facing the social stress of knowing that one of his closest disciples was betraying him and all of his other disciples would abandon him. On top of all of that, he was staring down the inconceivable spiritual stress of carrying the weight of sin on his shoulders. He would bear our sin in his flesh on the tree. (1 Pet. 2:24)
Even now in this moment, Jesus could have run. He could have escaped Jerusalem before Judas led the soldiers to arrest him. He could have fought back and won with ease. He calmed the sea. What’s a small platoon of soldiers? In fact, Peter tried to fight back in his own power when he cut off the servant’s ear. (Lk. 22:50-51) John’s gospel records Jesus’ words after Peter struck with the sword.
John 18:11 (NIV)
11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
Jesus could have fought back. Jesus could have run. He didn’t do either of those because his face was set to the will of the Father. I know of no greater example of courage.
Then, as Jesus, is in physical, emotional, and spiritual agony, dying on the cross, he cries out:
Luke 23:46 (NIV) 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
This courage of Jesus was rooted in his trust in his Father. His spirit, his life, his breath was surrendered over to the Father. He trusted that this was the will of the Father. He trusted that God would raise him from the dead (Lk. 18:33) and so he was willing to go through the pain and suffering of the cross. “For the joy set before him he endured the cross.” (Heb. 12:2)
Reflection
We all ought to be eternally grateful to Jesus for his courage. He bore the punishment that our sins deserve. We deserved that agony. He didn’t. Yet he took it upon himself—on our behalf—so that we could be free. He suffered and died so that we can live eternally with him.
Like Jesus, set your face to do the will of the Father. Take heart, be courageous when the Father’s will leads you to face difficult circumstances.