The Transforming Truth About Calvary – Part 1

When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals — one on his right, the other on his left. Luke 23:33

The word ‘Calvary’ appears only once in the New Testament, but what happened there changed our destiny. In spite of the myths and misunderstandings, the truth is clear and life-changing. Let’s look at it. First, Calvary was voluntary. Those who watched it thought Jesus was a victim of circumstances beyond His control: the collusion of Jewish hatred and Roman might. How wrong! Jesus rejected Peter’s well-intentioned but misguided defense, saying, ‘Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?’ (Matthew 26:53). Jesus could have chosen to live without hardship, pain, or death. No one coerced Him into going to the cross. He said, ‘No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again’ (John 10:18). Calvary was certainly unjust and unfair. But it wasn’t assassination, it was atonement! His enemies intended Calvary to end His life, but Jesus intended it to save us from a lost eternity. And after they had done their worst and failed to stop Him, Peter confronted them on the day of Pentecost with this victorious truth: ‘In accordance with his own plan God had already decided that Jesus would be handed over to you; and you killed him by letting sinful men crucify him’ (Acts 2:23). Even the Father didn’t force Him. Jesus ‘gave himself as a ransom for all people’ (1 Timothy 2:6) – including you!

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love for me, being willing to undergo Calvary to give me life – eternally. In Jesus’ Name, Amen