Jesus Spent All, But He Risked Nothing

What Did Jesus Do?

“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”
Luke 23.46

I imagine that, at first glance, some people might take exception to my assertion that Jesus risked nothing. But I believe it. Don't get me wrong, the Lord put everything on the line for us, he held nothing back. Christ's suffering is beyond comprehension. His sacrifice immeasurable; truly, he gave up everything for our sake, and so that the will of the Father be fulfilled. But nothing at all was left to chance. The Lord's faith in the Father was absolute. When Jesus committed his spirit into the hands of his Father he was not thinking, “I sure hope this works!” The outcome was never in doubt. The Lord knew that the life he laid down he would take up again (John 10.17-18). Yes, Jesus had faith to be so bold and daring as to still amaze the world. Yet, with the Incarnation Jesus spent all, but he risked nothing.

Risk is involved only when there is some question about the outcome. A thirteen-year-old boy asking a girl on a date for the first time takes a risk (She could shoot him down or, worse, say “Yes!”). People boarding a plane take a risk (You never know when those air traffic controllers are going to take a nap.). Investors take risks with their money every day (As opposed to investment advisers, who take risks with other people's money.). We all take risks, most of them comparatively small, though, on occasion, some of them can be pretty huge. But Jesus, no, he risked nothing.

When he fed the multitude with a few loaves and fish the Lord did not say, “Let's give this a try.” When he stepped on to the waters of Galilee Jesus wasn't wondering if he could walk across the sea. When he walked towards Golgotha, bearing the weight of the cross upon which he would be crucified Christ was not wondering, “Well, here goes nothing!” When he hung in agony on the cross, and make no mistake, his anguish and pain were very real, the thought, “Hmm, maybe I do need to save myself” never entered Christ's mind. The torment was incredible and beyond human endurance, and we must remember that Jesus was fully human. Each minute of suffering must have seemed like an hour. But I believe that the Lord's cry of anguish (see Mark 15.34) was less an expression of doubt and more a cry for mercy. For, you can be sure of this, Jesus risked nothing.

Or do you think that before the Incarnation the Father called Jesus in to discuss his plans? “Son, I have an idea about how we might save my people. It's risky, but I think it should work. I am going to ask you to go down to earth, but don't worry, according to my calculations there is a strong probability that you'll make it back to heaven.” That sounds absurd, doesn't it? Believe me, Jesus risked nothing.

And this has huge implications for us. You see, faith is not a risk. But it is costly. Jesus promised that his followers would each have to bear their own cross. It still takes boldness and daring to talk the talk and walk the walk of faith. But it is no more risky for you or me to trust our lives to the Father than it was for the Son to do so. The thing is, there is so much that we encounter every day that involves risk of some degree, that most of us look at a life of faith as, how should I put this, chancy. We consider our several courses of action, and, time and again, weighing what we consider the risks, play it safe. I'm not saying we should ignore the cost, the Lord clearly warned those who would be his disciples that they should carefully weigh the cost (Luke 14.25-33) of following him. But this was not at all a suggestion that the way of discipleship is a path of uncertain outcome. In the end it comes down to whether or not we believe that what we believe is true or not. If we believe it is true, then faith will be costly, but it is not the least bit risky. I believe the Father is still looking for sons and daughters who trust him enough to spend all while risking nothing. That's what Jesus did.

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4