Surrendered Jesus

"He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will."

— Luke 23:25

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

As Pilate relented to the insistent shouts of the blood-thirsty crowd, he released Barabbas from prison and "surrendered Jesus to their will." He gave Jesus to the people to be led away and be crucified. The word Luke uses is paradidomi, meaning "to surrender, to yield up, to deliver up, to give over." It appears that You were being surrendered—delivered up, given over—to the crowd and to their will. But in actuality, You were surrendered to the Father's will, choosing to give Yourself over to Him.

Oh, how often we humans want You to surrender to our will! We want You to perform as we determine. We want You to do what we desire. We want You, Lord of the Universe, to yield to our will. Pilate's actions, releasing a prisoner and condemning an innocent man, was an act of betrayal—another meaning of the word paradidomi. We betray you, Jesus, every time we demand You yield to our will.

Lord, You demonstrated the truest form of surrender when You surrendered Your life on the cross. You surrendered Your will to the Father. Luke 22:42, "yet not my will, but yours be done." You surrendered Your life unto death so that I would be free from death and would live. Luke 23:46, "Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit." You surrendered Your position in Heaven to come on this rescue mission to earth. Philippians 2:7-8, "rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death–even death on a cross!"

Gracious Lord, may I live a surrendered life like You. Forgive me for striving to have You yield to my will. Today, I choose to surrender my will to You.

In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

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