Many times, during the ministry of Jesus, the Jews attempted to kill Jesus by stoning or by casting Him down a precipice. Jesus faced adversity during his entire ministry, yet He continued through adversity that He might fulfill and accomplish what He came to do. Satan wanted Jesus to die at some other time or by some other manner than on the cross during Passover. Jesus continually disrupted their plans. It was also necessary that Jesus life be not taken from Him, but for Him to give His life as a sacrifice for our sins. There are many Old Testament prophecies that have their fulfillment as Jesus is crucified, buried, and risen again. Satan and the Jews wanted to take Jesus’ life; Jesus came to give His life. He would do that at the foreordained time and manner.

·        Luke 4:29-30 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

·        John 5:16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

·        John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

·        John 7:30 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.

·        John 8:59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

·        John 10:31-33 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

·        John 10:39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,

1 Peter 1:18-20 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Ron Cox - Director of HOPE Ministry