What Jesus HAD to do

Last Sunday we celebrated the Lord's Supper at church and I've been pondering the message all week. Pastor preached from Matthew 16:21 where Jesus said he MUST do 3 things; they were non-negotiables: 1. suffer; 2. be killed and 3. rise again. I don't know that I ever thought about the suffering part before in the way Pastor presented it. I knew he had to die and rise again, but why suffer - and so horribly?

Jesus' sufferings served a purpose:
1. They were the ultimate test of his obedience. In our sufferings, we usually ask: "How can I get out of this?" Or, "How long will this go on?" But Jesus stayed the course, He chose to obey. He knew how bad it would be and did not back down, whine, beg for a way out or give up. He really could have called 10,000 angels, but he chose not to.

2. They perfected him in obedience. He fulfilled all righteousness.

His obedience qualified him to be the perfect sacrifice and substitute for me. Because not only were my sins laid to his account, but now his righteousness is also laid to my account. The 2 sides of the cross. 2 Corinthians 5:21: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
God provided a complete remedy for my complete ruin.