Jesus Christ was no victim. The Gospel-writer, John, makes certain we know that. Though Jesus is arrested in John 18, there’s no doubt who’s in charge: he picks the spot, he initiates the confrontation, and he commands the troops to release his friends.

Though he had the power to evade capture (and more), he chose the way of the cross. He chose the way of love. He knew how bad it would be, and he went through with it anyway — for love of the Father, and love of you.

Jesus prayed for us, that we might be one — unified in the same way that God the Father and God the Son are unified. That’s a tall order! For that humanly-impossible calling, God provides the power of the gospel through the Holy Spirit, to help us bear witness to the world through our unity and love.

The glory of God is most prominently on display at the cross of Jesus. God’s character — abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, full of grace and truth — are demonstrated most prominently when Jesus died for the sins of undeserving us.