When Jesus made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, he fulfilled the scripture which says; “Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt’”. ~ Matthew 12:5 TNLT

The Pharisees then declared; “There’s nothing we can do. Look, everyone has gone after him!” ~ John 12:19 TNLT 

Jesus was in complete control for the Father had placed all authority into his hands. The gospel of John tells us the following:

Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. ~ John 13:1-4

Instead of making himself King for his own glory, Jesus chose to lay down his life for the Glory of God by giving us an example to follow. He did not exalt himself to be King but instead surrendered his life to the will of his Father to be the offering for our sins. He gave his life as a ransom for many and by giving his life for us, he glorified God. ~ John 13:31-32). Jesus is the Servant-King!

The cross of Jesus Christ is not about the wrath of God being diverted from sinners and being taken out on his Son. The cross of Christ is about the sacrifice of the Son of God bearing witness to the truth in sacrificial love as He gave His life as an offering for our sins.

Jesus laid down his life so that the world would know that he loves the Father (John 14:29-31). He glorified God by giving his life as a ransom for our sins (John 13:31-32). The gospel repeatedly describes his death as His “departure” and his “going to the Father” (John 13:1, 3; 16:5-7, 10, and 28). He described the laying down of his life as that of a corn of wheat falling into the ground and dying which afterwards brings forth a great harvest. ~ John 12:24

Jesus never failed to show the world who the Father really is. He did this in everything he said and did including his death ~ John 13:32. All the works which Jesus did, he did in the name of his Father (John 10:25) and just prior to lying down his life he had prayed, “Father, glorify thy name”.  In response to this prayer the Father answered: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again” ~ John 12:28. By this, the Father was speaking of the works he had already done through his Son and the work he was about to accomplish through his death and resurrection.

Jesus had said to those Jews who wanted to kill him from the beginning, “when you have lifted up the Son of Man (on the cross) you will know that I AM HE” ~ John 8:28-29. His death and resurrection was the final and greatest statement that he is indeed the Messiah, the Son of God. Everything Jesus did, he had learned from the Father and when he laid down his life, he gave it as the good Shepherd giving his life for the sheep; this also he had learned from his Father!

Jesus laid down his life because of his love for us (John 15:13; 1 John 3:16) and death could not hold him because he is the resurrection and the life (John 11). He gave his life to redeem us with his precious blood and he conquered death in His resurrection.

Jesus laid down his life for His friends (John 15:13) and he is our example of how we should lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 John 3:16).

Jesus laid down his life for the sheep because He knew the Father (John 10:11, 15, 17-18) and was taught so by the Father (John 10:17-18; 13:1-3; 14:29-31). He did only what he saw His Father do (John 5:19). This commandment – to lay down His life and take it up again – He received from the Father (John 10:18).

In John 10:17 Jesus says, “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.” In his death for you, Jesus did what He had learned from the Father: He gave himself in true sacrificial love!

Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. ~ 1 Peter 2; 24-25

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. ~ John 10:11