2 By reasoning in their twisted way, the ungodly said: Our lives are short and painful. There is no antidote for death; no one has come back from the grave.

¹² Let’s lie in ambush for the one who does what is right. He’s a nuisance to us. He always opposes our actions. He blames us because we have failed to keep the Law. He condemns us for turning our backs on our upbringing. ¹³ He boasts of his knowledge of God. He even calls himself the Lord’s servant.^{[a] 14} He exposes our secret plans. Just to look at him makes us sick. ¹⁵ His life isn’t like the lives of others. His ways are completely different. ¹⁶ He thinks we’re frauds. He avoids us and our actions as though we’re unclean. Instead, he blesses the final days of those who do what’s right. He even boasts that God is his Father.

¹⁷ Let’s see if his words are true. Let’s put him to the extreme test and see what happens. ¹⁸ If this man who does the right thing is indeed God’s son, then God will assist him. God will rescue him from the hand of those who oppress him. ¹⁹ Let’s test him by assaulting and torturing him. Then we will know just how good he really is. Let’s test his ability to endure pain. ²⁰ Let’s condemn him to a disgraceful death: according to him, God should show up to protect him.

²¹ This was how the ungodly reasoned, but they were mistaken. Their malice completely blinded them. ²² They didn’t know of God’s secret plan. They didn’t hope for the reward that holiness brings. They didn’t consider the prize they would win if they kept their whole beings free from stain. ²³ God created humans to live forever. He made them as a perfect representation of his own unique identity. ²⁴ Death entered the universe only through the devil’s envy. Those who belong to the devil’s party experience death.^[b]

Jesus goes to Jerusalem

7 After this Jesus traveled throughout Galilee. He didn’t want to travel in Judea, because the Jewish authorities wanted to kill him. ² When it was almost time for the Jewish Festival of Booths,

¹⁰ However, after his brothers left for the festival, he went too—not openly but in secret.