"Do you think...?"

Matthew 26:53,54, "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

I wonder what would happen, if Jesus did call on his Father to send him 12 legions of angels to help him.

It may have proved to his disciples that Jesus came to save Israel from the Romans. It may have convinced to the religious leaders that he is sent from God. Or, it may have pursuaded all Israel that Jesus is the Messiah!

But...the Scriptures would not be fulfilled - Jesus would not have taken away "the sin of the world!". We all, not just Jews, but Jews and Gentiles of all generations past, present and future, we would still be in our sins, and the just judgment of God would still hang over our heads for our many sins, against God! We would be doomed forever!

But Jesus was not selfish trying to save his own skin, though the temptation was there and was real - v.39b, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken away from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

Jesus came from his Father in heaven, to do his Father's will, which was Jesus' will as well. He came to "fulfill all righteousness" not for himself, because he was always righteous, but for us, on our behalf. So that, his righteousness, the perfect, unspotted and everlasting righteousness would be accounted as ours, and that only by simple personal faith, a heart trust in Jesus our substitute. Jesus came to fulfill the Scriptures, in his life and death and resurrection. He did it first for God, "he did it to demonstrate his (God's) righteousness at the present time, so as to be just (in our deserved punishment of our sins, pouring out his wrath on Jesus, who willingly offered himself up for us, as our substitute and representstive, being God - Man) and (God the Father being) the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus (these ones God declares legaly justified from their sins, as those that have paid justly deserved penalty of death for their sins in the death of Jesus, partaking in the benefit of it, by our whole hearted trust in Jesus, who is our only sufficient substitute)."

Jesus was on a mission, "To save his people from their sins". And when the Father raised him from the dead, he had "mission accomplished!" Thanks be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!