John 10:17-18 English Standard Version

¹⁷ For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Jesus was God the Father’s choice. Since the Father and Son were together before Jesus was born, God loves His Son. This comment by the Father is loving Him as a man. The Son of Man identity that God the Father loves is because He as a man was faithful to obey, even to His death of the Cross.

Matthew 26:39,42 English Standard Version

³⁹ And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”  ⁴² Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”

If God was to experience what it meant to die, then the Son must die in order to understand everything that man must experience.

Hebrews 4:15 English Standard Version (ESV)  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus had to drink the cup of death. This is a point that is important to remember. Jesus declared at the Last Supper, do this in remembrance of me. We drink the cup of His death, the blood shed for the forgiveness of sin.

One last truth needs to be addressed. His resurrection.

Leviticus 16:8-10 English Standard Version

⁸ And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for Azazel. ⁹ And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the Lord and use it as a sin offering, ¹⁰ but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.

This takes a little spiritual discernment to clarify this fourth truth that the sacrifice of Christ had to be a free will offering. It appears to our human perspective that the casting of lost was a random accident. One was sacrificed and one set free to go back into the world, dangerous as that was into the realm of the prince and power of the air, Satan’s realm.

Lots were cast to determine the will of God ceremoniously because Moses had died and no one could come to God and speak to Him face to face any longer. It is more important in the moment to look at what the Lord did over the scapegoat. The choice of the sacrifice was Gods.

These sacrifices did not satisfy God’s sense of justice over sin because they were not a perfect sacrifice.

Hebrews 10:1-3 English Standard Version

Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

¹ For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. ² Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? ³ But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.