During Holy Week one of the questions we are invited to ask ourselves is this: Why did Jesus choose to suffer and die? Invited by his Father to take the road to Calvary Jesus responded generously. But why did he say ‘yes’ to such pain and agony? Let me suggest three things that motivated him.
Firstly Love. “A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Jesus believed in the power of love; he lived by the power of love. He knew that love was the greatest power of all and that the fullest and most complete expression of love is the sacrifice of one’s life. As Jesus hung on the cross a love flowed out from him that had the power to change hearts, heal wounds, reconcile divisions, transform lives and break the chains of death. It is the power of love that is now communicated to us through the Holy Spirit. St John puts it well. “This is the love I mean, not our love for God, but God’s love for us when he sent his Son to be the sacrifice that takes away our sins” (1John 4:10). If the death of Jesus on the cross could be expressed in words, these words would be, ‘I love you.’
Secondly Compassion. Compassion is the ability to enter into the passion of others. It is solidarity with human weakness and vulnerability. The point where human beings are most vulnerable and powerless is death. By experiencing death Jesus experienced human nature at its weakest place. This makes him compassionate in the fullest possible way. For, “Though he was in the form of God Jesus did not count his equality with God, but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave, and being as all men are he humbled himself to accept death, death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8). Most people fear death. To know that Jesus has been there before us is surely a source of courage and comfort.
Thirdly Service. “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus suffered and died as an act of service on behalf of humankind. Through his suffering and death he did something for humanity that humanity could not do for itself. This can best be described as liberation: to free our humanity from the oppression of evil and death. The death of Jesus as an act of service is symbolised by the washing of the disciples’ feet at the Last Supper. Washing feet was a gesture the disciples were familiar with and had no problem understanding. Jesus used this humble act of service to help his disciples comprehend the motive for his suffering and death. He is the Servant King who sacrifices himself for the good of his people.
Love, compassion and service are reasons why Jesus chose to suffer and die. We are extremely grateful to him for the choice that he made.