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By Mike Caton

John 18:32, “This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.”

These Jewish leaders have already decided Jesus was guilty, and that he deserved the death penalty. But they had a problem, under Roman rule they were not allowed to put anyone to death. That is why they bring Jesus to Pilate, so that he can pronounce and carry out the death sentence. And this would fulfill what Jesus had said about himself.

But what did Jesus say? In John 3, Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about the bronze serpent Moses made in the desert. God sent snakes among the people to bite them, and they died. But if they looked at the statue of the snake, which was lifted up on a pole, they would live. Jesus said he was going to be lifted up as well. And then in John 12, Jesus said that when he was lifted up, he would draw all people to himself. Jesus is speaking about the kind of death he would die, on a cross. The condemned were nailed there and lifted up for everyone to see. Crucifixion was a cruel death, by design, and the Romans wanted others to see what would happen to them if they crossed the Romans.

And Jesus calls us to die the same kind of death. We are to take up our cross and follow Jesus daily. This means we are to crucify the old man with his passions and desires. We are to become a new man in Jesus Christ. And we are to live our lives for him each and every day. It is often a struggle; our desires can run deep. But we need to commit ourselves to God that much stronger.

Father, thank you for Jesus’ death that sets us free. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Mike Caton is the preacher at Mount Olive Church of Christ in Belhaven. He volunteers at the Ponzer Fire Department and works full time with Hyde County EMS. If you would like to receive daily devotions in your inbox, email mikecaton@centurylink.net.

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