Christ Jesus not only came into the world to die, but He knew that He came for that purpose. From the very beginning of His public ministry, the Son of Man had a brooding anticipation of “an hour” that was to come — an hour which, in some eventful way, would be the culmination of His ministry. “The sense of something tragic in His destiny was present in the mind of Jesus.” Let us trace His anticipation of this hour through John’s Gospel.

John 2:4

“Jesus said unto her, “Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come.”

This word was spoken on a joyous occasion at the beginning of His public ministry when He was popular, when the people were receiving and following Him.

John 7:6

“My time is not yet come, but your time is always ready.”

A large multitude of those who had been fed with the loaves and fishes had followed Him as He went from Capernaum across the sea. He used the occasion to give the wonderful discourse recorded in John six, where He claims to be the Bread of Life sent by the Father to give His life for the life of the world. Life out of death was possible for all but only actual in the life of the one who “ate his flesh and drank his blood.” The message of the cross was foreshadowed in these words. It was a hard saying even for His own disciples, and many of them went back and walked no more with Him. The claim of Messiahship and Saviorhood angered the Jews beyond measure and instilled such bitter hatred into their hearts that they sought to kill Him. But Jesus was unperturbed, simply saying, “My time is not yet come.” He knew full well the time would come when their hate would expend itself on Him in cruel malignity.

Three times in John seven, this expression is used. The Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand, and the Lord Jesus was conscious of the plot on the part of the Jews to kill Him, so He says to the disciples,

John 7:8

“Go ye up unto this feast. I go not up yet unto this feast, for My time is not yet fully come.”

How significant are those words “full come.” The shadow of the cross had already fallen over His life. From that time on, He would walk in its ever-deepening darkness.

At this feast, the Lord Jesus was brought into open conflict with the Jews over the question of the authoritative origin of His doctrine. Again, He made claims for Himself which so incensed them that we read,

John 7:30

“Then they sought to take Him; but no man laid hands on Him, because His hour had not yet come.”

The same thing was repeated as the Lord Jesus taught in the Temple (John 8:20). Jesus grew in popularity with the people. He makes even more daring claims to Deity and Messiahship and proves the truth of His words by the wonder of His works. The man born blind is given sight. Lazarus is raised from the dead. The religious leaders of the day are compelled to acknowledge the uniqueness of His power, and they fear its influence upon the people. They frankly confess that “the world is gone after him” and openly declare that the thing must be stopped immediately. The hour draws nearer.

Just at this time when the Jews are most fiercely censuring and opposing Him, a very significant thing happens. A deputation of Greeks, Gentiles, came to worship Him. Everything converges to show Christ that “the hour” He has so long anticipated is now near at hand. So, when Andrew and Philip bring the message of the Greeks to Him, with majestic calmness and kingly control, He replies, “The hour is come.”

Up to this time, He has not explained what He means by the oft-repeated words “my hour.” Several times He has foretold His death and resurrection, but the disciples did not grasp His meaning. On this occasion, however, He speaks more explicitly.

John 12:23-24

^23 “And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour is come that the Son of Man should be glorified. ²⁴ Verily, verily I say unto you, unless a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”

John 12:27

“Now is My soul troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this cause came I unto this hour.”

John 12:31-33

^31 “Now is the judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out. ³² And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.” ³³ This He said, signifying what death He should die.”

The interval now was very short. Not a single event of that last week takes the Lord Jesus by surprise. He knows that His hour has come. In His last conversation and prayer with His disciples, He anticipates His exodus from this world and His return to His Father in Heaven.

John 16:28

“I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”

John 17:1

“These words spoke Jesus and lifted up His eyes to Heaven and said, “Father, the hour is come. Glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee.”

When the Lord had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples unto a place called Gethsemane. There, His soul began to be very sorrowful and oppressed, so much so that He left the companionship of the disciples and went alone with His Father to pray. Falling upon His face, He cried,

Matthew 26:39

“O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”

Returning unto His disciples and finding them asleep, He, still overborne with sorrow, went away a second time and prayed,

Matthew 26:42

“O My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me, unless I drink it, Thy will be done.”

Again, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and again, He left them to pray. Then He returned to them for the last time and said,

Matthew 26:45

“Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”

Never in the history of man was such anguish of spirit and agony of soul endured as that of the Son of Man as He went to Calvary by way of the garden of Gethsemane. Heaven mercifully veiled the Sufferer from the gaze of men and left us only the thrice repeated pleadings of His prayer to indicate the nature and the depth of the suffering.

Two utterances in His prayer take us to the very heart of His anguish. “Let this cup pass from me” and “Behold the hour is at hand.” Surely, the two have some intimate relationship with each other. But what is the dreaded “cup” that must be drunk? What is the inevitable “hour” so long anticipated and now at hand? Did He not interpret the meaning of this oft-used expression when He said, “The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners”? From this and the events that follow in quick succession, “the hour” could be none other than the hour of His death.

Source: “Life on the Highest Plane” by Ruth Paxson

Lord Jesus, You came, knowing You were coming to die for us!