Confronted-by-grace Quote by John Webster
![“As we read the stories of [the] last week of the life of Christ…, we are not to think of what we read as the last days of a good man scandalously treated and slowly engulfed by powers too great for him. No, we’re to wonder at the majestic condescension of God, the unbroken movement of the will of…” quote by John Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ed1/john-webster-7470_confronted-by-grace_as-we-read-the-stories-of-the-last-week_1776071.jpg)
““As we read the stories of [the] last week of the life of Christ…, we are not to think of what we read as the last days of a good man scandalously treated and slowly engulfed by powers too great for him. No, we’re to wonder at the majestic condescension of God, the unbroken movement of the will of God. At the Last Supper, faced with the presence of his betrayer, Jesus said, ‘the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!’ (Luke 22:22). These words—‘as it has been determined, but woe’—stand over the whole of the course of the passion. Holy Week is no accident and no tragedy. The betrayal of Judas, the abandonment of the disciples, the vacillation and weakness of Pilate, the self-protection of the leaders of the people—none of this corners Jesus or overtakes him. He is and remains Lord.””
About This Quote
Source Sermon: Holy Week Reflection, 2020
The passage emphasizes that Christ’s suffering is part of a divine plan, not merely a tragic downfall, highlighting God’s sovereign will and the purposeful nature of the events.
In simple terms: Christ’s suffering follows God’s predetermined plan, not random tragedy.
Key Takeaway
Recognize purpose in suffering.
Themes
theology
divine sovereignty
passion narrative
faith
purpose
Mood
reverent
thoughtful
Type
theological
inspirational
When to use this quote
- preaching
- personal reflection
- teaching
- spiritual counseling
Key Concepts
Predestination
redemptive suffering
human agency
Questions to Reflect On
- How does recognizing divine purpose affect personal grief?
- What role does human responsibility play in divine plans?
A Different Perspective
Human free will can seem at odds with divine determinism.
![“The story of the passion, these few brief hours one afternoon in the history of the world, [is] the outworking of the eternal will of God for our salvation. Jesus’ abandonment and death is not his defeat. It does not spell the overthrow of God’s ways—quite the opposite. It’s the fulfillment of…” quote by John Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/05d/john-webster-7470_confronted-by-grace_the-story-of-the-passion-these-few-brief_2852173.jpg)
