Dr Paul Allen

A glorious inheritance was won for us by Christ’s own faithful perseverance and patience. In the incarnation, he came alongside us in our sufferings, joining us in this broken world. He not only began well but also faithfully lived his entire life in service to God. The writer to the Hebrews tells us that Christ “learned obedience through what he suffered” (Heb. 5:8). In his case, his suffering produced endurance, character, and hope (cf. Rom. 5:3) as he persisted in faithful obedience right until the very end.  He patiently endured the disappointment over disciples who failed to understand his teaching, who squabbled over the top places in the kingdom, and who then abandoned him at the end. He patiently bore the grief of losing friends whom he loved to death and being betrayed by one of his own disciples. He patiently put up with a people who cried out, “Hosanna to the king!” one day and then, “Crucify him!” just a few days later. He patiently put up with human followers who are j...

“And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.” ( John 18:2 ) In the 18th and 19th chapters of John’s gospel, there are four “places” where Jesus had to go to accomplish our salvation. The first was the place as noted in our text: He, “knowing all things that should come upon him” ( John 18:4 ), nevertheless went directly to that place, knowing that Judas would meet Him there. Then He went to the place of trial: “Pilate . . . brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called . . . Gabbatha” ( John 19:13 ). But He did not stay there long; the mockery of a trial was soon over, and Pilate delivered Him to be crucified. “And they took Jesus, and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull” ( John 19:16-17 ). And in that place called Golgotha, He died for our sins. He was betrayed in a place called Gethsemane, condemned in a place called Gabbatha, an...