The idea of something being the beginning of the end seems odd. Endings should just be endings, not beginnings. And yet, the sequence of things that lead to that end have to begin somewhere. The final beginning of Jesus’ end in this life started with dinner. It unfolded from there into a series of events that looked from the outside-in like they were all spiraling out of control, making Jesus a helpless victim of His circumstances. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. Nothing Jesus did ever happened by accident. The things that happened to Him weren’t an accident either. As we continue our journey through Luke’s Story of Sacrifice this week, we are talking about just how in command Jesus really was. Let’s dive right in.
It Was Always on Purpose
In the late 1500s, an English Protestant preacher and scholar named John Foxe wrote a book that quickly became an enduring spiritual and devotional classic. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs sought to tell the stories of believers who had been persecuted for their faith, many of whom paid the ultimate price in that persecution. His goal was to encourage other believers with these powerful stories to perform great acts of faith and faithfulness in their own lives. These kinds of stories are indeed powerful. They are inspiring. Hearing gripping stories about incredible acts of devotion has a way of motivating copycats in the best possible sense. It can encourage those who are facing similar troubles in their own lives. It can grow the church in remarkable ways. As the early church father, Tertullian, once wrote, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”
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The Nexus 