I had fun swimming with my elementary kids at church one Wednesday evening. Somewhere along the way the kids thought it would be “great fun” to see if they could dunk me. For the space of 15 minutes (no exaggeration) I had anywhere from 5 to 8 kids wrapped around my neck, pulling on my legs, pulling on my arms, and screaming in my ears as they did their very best to try to dunk my head beneath the water. My 50-year-old body held up well, however, and none of their most valiant efforts were able to pull my 6’3” frame below the water. When they finally realized that their efforts were futile some of them gave up altogether. So, I said, “Okay, I’ve proven that you can’t take me down so now I’m going to LET you dunk me if you want to.” They were all too willing to take me up on my offer. I ended all of my resistance, released my leg muscles and succumbed to the full weight of 8 kids weighing down on me. I sank like a stone to the bottom of the pool. The kids thought it was great that they were able to “bring me down” but I know full well that they didn’t do it… I ALLOWED IT.
As I reflected on what happened that night I remembered the words of Jesus when He said, “No man can take my life from me. I lay it down willingly” (John 10:18). The Pharisees, the Sadducees, Pilate and the Roman government all thought that they had a part to play in the “termination” of Jesus. But, actually, all their efforts against the son of God were as futile as those 8 elementary kids trying to dunk their teacher. If Jesus had not willingly laid His life down no “man” would have been able to take his life from Him… HE ALLOWED IT! No, the JEWS didn’t kill Jesus… get that idea out of your head. It was a part of His plan to redeem mankind. He let men think that they were snuffing out His life, but in actuality, no government or army of man has the power, has the strength or even the weaponry that would be successful in such an endeavor. No! He LAID HIS LIFE DOWN.
John 10:17 (NLT)
No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily.
