The Road to the Cross
The Road to Resurrection Series – Renovate Church – Centennial, CO
by Molly Poozhikala
This series has been all about Jesus’ journey towards his greatest miracle of all. In this post, we’ll cover the last of the events which lead to his resurrection, including the most difficult—and most important—event of all: Jesus’ death.
We’ll be walking through Jesus’ time in Gethsemane, his trial, and ultimately his crucifixion—primarily through John 18–19 (which I highly encourage you to read on your own this week).
Gethsemane: The Beginning of the Suffering
Before the arrest, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane and prayed:
“Abba, Father… everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36)
Jesus knew what was coming—and He didn’t want to suffer. But more than avoiding pain, He wanted to obey the Father.
Even here, we see the beginning of betrayal:
- His closest friends fell asleep while he was in agony
- Judas, one of his own disciples, led a crowd to arrest Him
- Peter tried to fight back—and Jesus stopped him
Jesus didn’t resist. He chose to go.
The Trial: Truth Ignored
Jesus was brought before the Jewish leaders, but the outcome had already been decided. This wasn’t a real trial—it was a setup.
When questioned, Jesus essentially pointed out the obvious:
“’I have spoken openly to the world,’ Jesus replied. ‘I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.’” (John 18:20-21
He was struck for saying this—and no one defended truth.
Meanwhile, Peter—who had just tried to defend Jesus with a sword—denied even knowing him three times.
More betrayal. More silence. More injustice.
Pilate: Power vs. Truth
Since the Jewish leaders couldn’t execute Jesus, they brought Him to the Roman governor, Pilate.
Pilate immediately sensed something was off, and asked them why they wanted him killed.
Their answer? Basically, “Trust us.”
So Pilate questioned Jesus directly in John 18:33-38. It went a little something like this:
“Are you the king of the Jews?”
“My kingdom is not of this world,” Jesus replied.
Then Jesus made a powerful statement:
“Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
Pilate responded with a question that echoes many of the loudest voices in our culture today:
“What is truth?”
Despite finding no fault in Jesus, Pilate gave in to pressure.
Even after trying multiple times to release him… he handed Jesus over to be crucified.
The Cross: Humiliation Without Defense
Jesus was mocked, beaten, and crucified.
Even the criminals beside him mocked him.
And through it all—he did not defend himself.
That raises a difficult question:
Why Didn’t Jesus Defend Himself?
Most of us would.
We defend ourselves when we’re misunderstood.
When we’re accused unfairly.
When we’re hurt.
So why didn’t Jesus?
1. Because of God’s Will
Jesus made it clear:
“You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” (John 19:11a)
He wasn’t powerless—He was submitted.
To resist the cross would have been to resist God’s will.
And that wasn’t an option.
2. Because Truth Speaks for Itself
Jesus is the truth.
He had already taught, healed, and revealed who he was.
Those who wanted truth had already seen it—or would.
Those who didn’t? No argument would convince them.
Sometimes, defending yourself isn’t about truth—it’s about pride.
Jesus didn’t need to prove anything.
3. Because He Was Not Ashamed
This is where things hit close to home.
Jesus endured:
- False accusations
- Public humiliation
- Rejection
- Death
And yet—He carried no shame.
Why?
Because He never sinned.
The Real Obstacle: Shame
Shame is something all of us wrestle with.
It shows up in different ways:
- Feeling like you’re never good enough
- Comparing yourself to others
- Avoiding people who seem “better” than you
- Or even thinking you’re better than others to cover insecurity
Shame either says:
- “I’m not enough,” or
- “I have to prove I am.”
Either way—it’s rooted in pride.
And it keeps us from fully understanding what Jesus did.
Shame vs. Conviction
It’s important to know the difference:
- Shame makes you hide, defend, and spiral
- Conviction leads you to change and move toward God
God convicts.
He does not shame.
The Truth That Changes Everything
Here’s the idea to hold onto:
God loves you because He is good—not because you are.
Let that sink in.
You don’t have to earn it.
You don’t have to prove anything.
You don’t have to live under shame.
Because of the cross, you are invited into relationship—not performance.
Living in Light of the Cross
Jesus didn’t go to the cross reluctantly.
He went willingly, out of love.
And because of that:
- Your identity is not defined by failure
- Your worth is not based on performance
- Your life is not driven by shame
It’s driven by love.
A Moment to Remember
As we enter Holy Week, take time to reflect:
- Sit in gratitude
- Let go of guilt and pride
- Receive what Jesus has done
Not as pressure—but as a gift.
Final Thought
As you go through this week, meditate on this:
God loves you because He is good—not because you are.
If that truth takes root in your heart, it will make you into something better than the best kind of person you could imagine.