We all need to have courage and not be afraid. Joshua was taught by Moses not to be afraid. He told the Israelites the same thing. Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” God led them right into the promised land. We need to remember that Lord will always lead us in the right direction. We just simply need to follow Him.
When I think about courage, I think about how Jesus faced so much before He ever got to Calvary. He was betrayed by a close friend. He was arrested and deserted by all of His friends. He was denied by another one of His friends. He was blindfolded, mocked, beaten, struck in the face, spit upon and completely humiliated before He was put to trial. Then He was tried again by Pilate, where they released a rebellious murderer instead of Jesus, and they chose to crucify Him. They forced Him to carry His own cross, with the help of Simon the Cyrene, and then led Him up to Calvary where they placed Him on a cross between two thieves and placed a crown of thorns on His head.
Jesus faced all of these things and was just now getting to the cross. Immediately, He begins asking for the Lord to forgive these people. Keep in mind all of the horrible things that they had done to Him. They even released a murder over Him who had done nothing. As He is forgiving Him, they strip Him of the one thing He has left to His name, His seamless robe, and they begin casting lots for it (v.34). The sneered at Him, mocked Him, spit at Him and made fun of Him saying, “You could save others why can’t you save yourself?” They placed a sign on the cross that said, “This is the King of the Jews.”
His entire life He kept preaching and teaching but He knew He was going to die. He could have called angels. He could have asked God the Father to come and stop it. However, He did not do any of those things. He endured the cross. He was faithful to God and not afraid to do what was necessary to save us from our sins.
Jesus was brave and courageous. He went to the cross, even though it was hard. The Israelites were able to enter the promised land, but Jesus wants us to have the same courage to enter into Heaven. We should want to go to Heaven.
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