John 13:3 NEB ~  During supper, Jesus well aware that the Father had entrusted everything to him and that he had come from God and was going back to God rose from the table….”

Responsibility, accountability and judgment are the three thoughts I have from this verse.  In this context, we find Jesus, knowing(English Standard Version) that the Father had entrusted to Him the redemption of all humanity.   Making a choice, He rises, and through the rest of the gospel, we find Him continually making choices to meet the circumstances laying before Him. Ultimately knowing those choices will end in His death and separation from the Father, while yet believing in His ultimate resurrection and restoration. 

 

The English definition for the word “entrust” is assign the responsibility for doing

something to (someone).

 

Jesus lived His entire life mindful of the Divine mission he carried. For example, Luke 4:43 “They came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving, "But Jesus told them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well, because that is why I was sent.”  From ~ 1 John 3:8 we read, “For this purpose was the son of God manifest….”  And, Hebrews 10:5 we learn “when Christ came into the world he said, … a body have you prepared for me. (7) Behold I have come to do your will, O God as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.”

 

The Father had entrusted to Jesus everything.  

 

Somehow, in all of this, we understand Jesus had a choice.  He’s called the second Adam and just like the first failed the obedience test, Jesus too could have opted out of His assignment.  It’s hard to fathom Jesus being judged for disobedience, but if that was not possible, the plan of redemption would not have been complete.  Hebrews points out ‘He was a man tempted like we are, yet without sin.’ 

 

It’s hard to consider Jesus failing, but it would not have been a valid redemption if He was not capable of choosing self over submission to God.

 

Jesus’ ministry was met with crowds, followers, disciples, those he loved and those who loved him; praise, criticism, opposition, betrayal, plots to assassinate him and ultimately death and yet none of these things altered His choice to always move forward into the purpose and destiny assigned to Him.

 

Jesus was a man, NEB in Hebrews 4:15 reads, “one, who because of his likeness to us, has been tested every way, (tested in every way as we are) only without sin.”  

 

How many times do we excuse ourselves because we do not believe eternity hinges on our choices?  I’ve strongly believed, my entire spiritual adulthood, Mordecai’s warning to Esther; ‘…relief will come; but you and your fathers house will perish.’ (Esther 4:14) Ihave believed there is an ultimate judgment for any known step I refuse to take believing God in His great love will not allow my disobedience to alter His purpose for another.  BUT WHAT IF, my choices really don’t affect me only? What if my choices do impact another's destiny?  Whose salvation may we have neglected in our choices?   Are there, have there been, divine connections we’ve refused to make?

 

So the questions I bring before all of us today are these; 

What has the Father entrusted to us that eternity does hinge on?  

What has the Father made us responsible for?  

Do we live with an awareness we are accountable for those and that we will be judged for the choices we made (make) regarding them?