Can you see that it was not Sodom, the lusts of the flesh, or Egypt, the love of the world, that killed Jesus? It was envy. Why were the chief priests and elders envious? They were envious because they were attempting to do religious work according to their own reasoning and will. If they had been hearing from God, as Jesus and John the Baptist were, they would not have slain their own Christ.

Why does Israel kill her prophets? Because the prophets are hearing from God while Israel is pursuing the Law of Moses without hearing from God.

Sometimes we of today pursue the Bible without hearing from God.

How many great plans for saving souls are being made today because men and women think they know what the Lord wants. They are as the Pharisees, completely well-intentioned, but they will kill the Lord's Christ wherever they find Him.

They would protest this idea vigorously. So would the Pharisees!

Lust did not kill Jesus, although lust can destroy the witness. The love of the world did not kill Jesus, although the love of the world can destroy the witness. It was religious self-will that called for the blood of the Son of God. Think of it!

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it." (Luke 9:23,24—NIV)

The only manner in which we can save our life is by losing it in Jesus Christ. This includes our religious life, our desire to minister, as well. We cannot bear eternal fruit unless we are willing, as a seed, to fall into the ground and die. Our personal cross, our personal prison, is the ground into which we fall and die.

Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done. (Luke 22:42—NIV)

What was the "cup" of Jesus? It was the terrifying thought of being separated from God while He bore the sins of the world. The only guarantee Jesus had that fellowship with His Father ever would be restored was the faithfulness of God. This is our guarantee also, but sometimes it is difficult to fully trust God, especially when faced with the loss of all we desire.

We won't have to drink from a cup as bitter as that of Jesus unless we are going to be placed at the right hand of Christ in His Kingdom; and even then it will not approach the horror of the cup Jesus drank from.

Incomprehensible though it may be, Jesus Christ was made perfect in obedience to the Father while suffering on the earth. Evidently such depth of selflessness and obedience cannot be gained while we are in the spirit realm.

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. (Hebrews 2:10—NIV)

Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered (Hebrews 5:8—NIV)

To be continued.