Christ's sacrifice and the Father's will

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It is my understanding that Christ’ sacrifice of himself on the cross was clearly prophesied beforehand in the Hebrew scriptures. God knew the Sanhedrin, the mob, and the Romans would murder Jesus and he permitted it to happen. However, I heard somewhere that while this may be true, God actually desired that the crucifixion not occur and that Israel would have followed Jesus as their Messiah and King. He may have judged harshly those involved in those crimes as he did Judas. My question is why did God permit the crucifixion? One answer I found to this is that he desired that, “the thoughts of many hearts would be revealed.” This of course comes from the prophecy of Simeon in the Presentation of Christ in the Temple mystery of the rosary and the Bible. Why did the Father wish that the thoughts of many hearts would be revealed? Did he desire to create an event that would reverberate down through the history of mankind on Earth, not only reveal the evil or good in the hearts of those that were present that day in Jerusalem? Why? God would always know what is in our hearts. Can anyone shed more light on the Paschal mystery for me? Are we as Catholics allowed to ask what is the will of our God? It seem to me that if we are adopted sons and daughters and God is all good we should be able to ask this question.
 
Very heavy topic and certainly one that cannot be answered easily. I can offer a few thoughts (my own), but it certainly doesn’t “answer” the mystery.

The Father wants us all to obey Him. But, he knew that we wouldn’t. He also knew that we could not save ourselves, so he would have to do it for us. While he wished that the crucifixion would not have been necessary, we as humans made it so. How amazing that we have a loving Father who saw this before time and sacrificed as He did so that we could know Him?

As for your question whether we can ask God’s will, we most certainly can. We can ask, but that does not necessarily mean that we will understand. Sometimes He will share with us. Sometimes, because He knows better, he may withold something from us. Remember, He is the all knowing, loving Father. We definitely may ask of our Lord, but we need then to be ready for the answer and ready to submit to His will.

May God bless you.
 
thyrodandstaff said:
thyrodandstaff

It is my understanding that Christ’ sacrifice of himself on the cross was clearly prophesied beforehand in the Hebrew scriptures. God knew the Sanhedrin, the mob, and the Romans would murder Jesus and he permitted it to happen. However, I heard somewhere that while this may be true, God actually desired that the crucifixion not occur and that Israel would have followed Jesus as their Messiah and King. He may have judged harshly those involved in those crimes as he did Judas. My question is why did God permit the crucifixion? One answer I found to this is that he desired that, “the thoughts of many hearts would be revealed.” This of course comes from the prophecy of Simeon in the Presentation of Christ in the Temple mystery of the rosary and the Bible. Why did the Father wish that the thoughts of many hearts would be revealed? Did he desire to create an event that would reverberate down through the history of mankind on Earth, not only reveal the evil or good in the hearts of those that were present that day in Jerusalem? Why? God would always know what is in our hearts. Can anyone shed more light on the Paschal mystery for me? Are we as Catholics allowed to ask what is the will of our God? It seem to me that if we are adopted sons and daughters and God is all good we should be able to ask this question.
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Jesus is the New Testament, the New Adam, the Promise of the New Heaven and the New Earth. Jesus is the Lamb of God - in other words, he is the fulfillment of the new Passover; He is the Lamb that was slain. Every word that Jesus said during His Passion tells us about God and the fulfillment of the prophecies. The mystery of why Jesus had to suffer is to be found in the OT. Everything Jesus says and does is foreshadowed by the Cross. We come to earth to live and find God. Jesus came to die. Jesus says He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He expects us to embrace our cross every day and follow Him. Read “The Life of Christ” by Fulton J Sheen. It is so wonderful and sheds much light on this, most amazing of all miracles of God. Another great read is “Jesus of Nazareth” (in two books) by our Pope Benedict XVI.
 
I just found an old copy of “The Life of Christ” by Fulton J. Sheen in the thrift store last week and have started reading it!
 
Jesus’ sacrifice was made certain when Adam sinned! It goes all the way back. God told the serpent that ‘woman’ would crush his head and that ‘you will strike at His heel’. God already had Our Blessed Mother in Mind. This is why Jesus referred to his mum as “Woman” a couple of times, because she is the New Eve. Our Blessed Mother’s total obedience to the Will of God is in direct contrast to the disobedience of the first Eve. Wow. It is so stupendous when we try to see the ‘big picture’. 🙂
 
I was praying the divine mercy chaplet this morning and an answer came to my mind for my original question as to why God permitted the crucifixion. God chose a brutal public murder as the event which would redeem many so he could show his power over death by the resurrection. It had to be public and Jesus death had to be certain so that the disciples would know he was truly raised and then spread the message. Even though God sacrificed his own son it was not so cruel because of the reality of the doctrine of the Trinity. Without knowledge and belief in the Trinity it is more difficult to understand the nature of the crucifixion. There seems to be so much more I don’t understand. God Bless.
 
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