Our Substitute

After the man had prayed with his followers, he entered a garden. It was a quiet place where he often went with them. But this time, the garden became the stage for his betrayal. One of the man's students arrived with soldiers carrying torches and weapons. When the soldiers asked if he was the man they sought, he answered, "I am he." At these powerful words, the soldiers fell back. Even so, the man allowed them to take him. One of the man's students attempted to defend his teacher, and with a sword he cut off one of the soldier's ears. The teacher stopped him and healed the man's ear. He reminded his student that he would not resist with violence, but accept the cup of suffering that was prepared for him. From that moment, the teacher would be taken from one leader to another—from religious leader to religious leader, and finally the governor. The religious leaders accused him falsely, but the man remained silent. Even the governor admitted that he found no fault in him, yet he gave in to the demands of the religious leaders. Meanwhile, one of the students, afraid of also being arrested, was denying even knowing his teacher. Through all of this, their teacher remained calm and willing to suffer. He was innocent, like the spotless lambs that was also to be sacrificed that day. His mission was to take the place of the guilty. He, himself, would be the sacrifice for sin.