The holiday season that spans from the birth of Christ to His resurrection offers a unique opportunity for “live discussions” about the core of our faith. It is a time for deep conversations with children and seekers alike about why He came, how He lived, and why He died.
A local church Christmas play recently posed a fascinating question: “Why didn’t Jesus come as a Ninja superhero?” To understand the answer, we must look past the “titular” roles of a deity and examine the profound mystery of the Hypostatic Union: Christ as fully God and fully man.
A Voluntary Sacrifice: “I Lay Down My Life”
A common misconception is that Christ was a victim of circumstance or a crime. However, the Bible is clear that His death was a legal payment for a “sin debt” that humanity could not pay.
As a sinless man, Jesus was not subject to death as we are. He had no sin to make Him liable for the grave. Therefore, His death was a deliberate choice. In John 10:17-18, He declares:
“I lay down my life… no man taketh it from me.”
His sacrifice was not the act of someone being killed; it was the act of a King laying down His authority to ransom His people.
The Gethsemane Struggle: Surrendering the Will
Before the cross came the garden. In Gethsemane, we see the humanity of Christ in its most relatable state: reluctant, struggling, and seeking another way.
The Preparation
Jesus had been preparing for this moment for some time. At the Transfiguration, he received counsel from Moses and Elijah regarding His “departure” (the Greek word used is exodos). Even with this heavenly counsel, the weight of the task was immense.
The Decision
In Mark 14:36, Jesus asks the Father if the suffering can be removed, yet He concludes with the ultimate act of leadership:
“…nevertheless, not what I will, but what thou wilt.”
Jesus leads in a way we often fail to imagine—by giving up His will. This is a level of insight and submission that goes against human nature, yet it is the very thing that secures our freedom.
Soul Restoration: Mind, Will, and Emotions
Biblical salvation is not just a ticket to heaven; it is the restoration of the soul. According to Scripture, the soul consists of three primary components: the mind, the will, and the emotions.
To be truly transformed, these three areas must be sacrificially given back to God:
- The Mind: We are told we have the “mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16) and must renew our thinking.
- The Emotions: We develop the compassion of Christ as we are changed into His likeness.
- The Will: Just as Christ did in Gethsemane, we must forfeit our own will to complete the restoration of our souls (Psalm 23:3).
The Passion of Surrender
What happened in Gethsemane was the ultimate example of “Passion.” It wasn’t just about the physical suffering of the body, but the total surrender of His everything for us.
By observing His surrender, we find the roadmap for our own lives. We aren’t called to be superheroes; we are called to be submitted, allowing our minds, wills, and emotions to be redeemed by the one who gave up His own for our sake.
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“Which part of the soul—the mind, the will, or the emotions—do you find the hardest to surrender to the Prince of Peace? Share your thoughts in the comments below.”