Occasionally a songwriter will say that the blood of Jesus was “spilled” at the cross. Some scholars cringe at that kind of wording because such lyrics may imply that what happened at Calvary was an accident.

Nothing could be further from the truth! What happened at the cross was no accident. The gospel message—salvation through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ—was planned from before the beginning of time. Ephesians 1:4-6 says, “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”

The death of Jesus was no accident. It was all a part of God’s plan to save humanity.