Just like that.

Thirteen by Lois A. Cheney
Who was Jesus?

He was a very brave person.

Mark, who deals mainly with the actions of Jesus, tells us that one day Jesus walked through the temple. He didn’t say anything, “and when he had looked round at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.” I don’t know what they did there, but I think Jesus just sort of sat around and thought a lot, and kind of got worked up. The next time he came to the temple, he “began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of them that sold doves. And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.” What did they do when he began to toss things around? I like the picture of birds flapping everywhere; money spinning and disappearing; robes flopping around hustling ankles.

He knew what was coming. He walked up and into Jerusalem – just like that. A couple of nights before, he sat on a hill and looked and looked at that city. I expect he prayed too. He saw the whole thing coming, and he walked right into it – just like that.

The High Priest asked him, “and he said unto him, Art though the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am.” And when he said that, he set in motion his trial and death. According to Mark, this is the only time he actually said it. And saying it, he set up his death. He knew what he was doing.
And he did it.
And he chose to do it.
Of his own will.