Topical Bible: Persecution: Christ Voluntarily Submitted To

◄ Persecution: Christ Voluntarily Submitted To ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The concept of persecution is central to the narrative of Jesus Christ's earthly ministry, as He willingly submitted to suffering and opposition as part of His divine mission. This voluntary submission is a profound aspect of His redemptive work, demonstrating both His obedience to the Father and His love for humanity.

Prophetic Foretelling

The Old Testament contains numerous prophecies that foretell the persecution and suffering of the Messiah. Isaiah 53:3-5 poignantly describes the suffering servant: "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He took on our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."

Christ's Awareness and Acceptance

Jesus was fully aware of the persecution He would face and spoke openly about it to His disciples. In Matthew 16:21 , it is recorded, "From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." This awareness did not deter Him; rather, it underscored His commitment to fulfilling the Father's will.

The Nature of His Persecution

Throughout His ministry, Jesus faced various forms of persecution, including verbal attacks, false accusations, and physical violence. The religious leaders of the time, feeling threatened by His teachings and growing influence, sought to discredit and ultimately destroy Him. In John 8:59 , we read, "At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus hid Himself and slipped away from the temple grounds."

The Passion and Crucifixion

The culmination of Christ's persecution is found in the events leading to His crucifixion. Betrayed by Judas Iscariot, Jesus was arrested and subjected to a series of unjust trials. He was mocked, beaten, and scourged, as described in Matthew 27:26-31 : "Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified. Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company around Him. They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him, and they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand and knelt down before Him to mock Him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' Then they spat on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly."

Ultimately, Jesus was crucified, a form of execution reserved for the most heinous criminals. Despite the excruciating pain and humiliation, He remained obedient to the Father's plan, as evidenced by His words in Luke 23:34 : "Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'"

Theological Significance

Christ's voluntary submission to persecution is central to Christian theology. It exemplifies His role as the sacrificial Lamb, taking upon Himself the sins of the world. His suffering and death were not merely acts of human injustice but were integral to God's redemptive plan. As stated in Philippians 2:8 , "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross."

Through His persecution, Jesus not only fulfilled the prophecies concerning the Messiah but also provided a model of endurance and faithfulness for His followers. His willingness to suffer for the sake of others is a profound demonstration of divine love and serves as an encouragement for believers facing their own trials and persecutions.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 50:6
I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Chapter iii.
... in labours, dangers, and sufferings, voluntarily undergone in ... all the histories agree
in representing Christ as foretelling the persecution of his ...
//christianbookshelf.org/paley/evidences of christianity/chapter iii.htm

Chapter vi.
... or that the writers of Christ's life were ... the belief of that story, voluntarily
incurring great ... and sustaining great extremities of ill usage and persecution. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/paley/evidences of christianity/chapter vi.htm

Chapter ii.
... labours, dangers and sufferings, voluntarily undergone in ... about seventy years after
Christ's death; and ... exposed, without any public persecution being denounced ...
//christianbookshelf.org/paley/evidences of christianity/chapter ii.htm

Chapter iv.
... labours, dangers, and sufferings, voluntarily undergone in ... or four years after Christ's
death, within ... notwithstanding that the late persecution occupied part ...
//christianbookshelf.org/paley/evidences of christianity/chapter iv.htm

Chapter v.
... in labours, dangers, and sufferings, voluntarily undergone in ... death, and so hot a
persecution raised against ... original followers of Jesus Christ exerted great ...
//christianbookshelf.org/paley/evidences of christianity/chapter v.htm

Chapter vii.
... in labours, dangers, and sufferings, voluntarily undergone in ... who were also the hearers
of Christ; [14] the ... propagation of the religion; the persecution of its ...
//christianbookshelf.org/paley/evidences of christianity/chapter vii.htm

The Persecutions of the Church.
... private chapel was a representation of Christ, and he ... often described most eloquently
the folly of persecution. ... which ought to be adopted voluntarily, not of ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter ii the persecutions of.htm

Our First Proposition Was, that There is Satisfactory Evidence ...
... lives in labours, dangers, and sufferings, voluntarily undertaken and ... Men do not
suffer persecution from the love ... were the alleged miracles of Christ and his ...
/.../paley/evidences of christianity/chapter i our first proposition.htm

The First Native Converts and Christian Schools
... This he voluntarily ceased to wear in a few ... The first shape which persecution took
was an assault ... continuing, however, secretly to pray to Christ when beaten ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter vi the first native.htm

Acts VIII
... 1) "On that day there arose a great persecution against the ... Jesus was his Son, but,
also, voluntarily placed himself ... to accept the mediation of Christ, just as ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts viii.htm