The Crucifixion: Why Did Jesus Die on the Cross?
Have you ever wondered why Jesus was crucified? In today’s post, Brad talks about the crucifixion and why Jesus chose to die for our sins on a cross.
The Crucifixion Of Jesus
Crucifixion. The very word, whether you’re a Christian or not, brings to mind a clear picture of an extremely gruesome form of death. Although crucifixion was often the preferred method of death used in the first millennium by the Romans, the world really, only attributes it to one particular mans’ death. When the world thinks of crucifixion, it is that of Jesus Christ, Son of Man, Son of God, God in the flesh.
God’s love for mankind, gave way to patient provision of sin offerings…bulls, goats, heifers. Ultimately, God himself, would provide the complete atonement, through Jesus blood at Calvary.
But why did Jesus have to die on a cross? Why crucifixion?
It seems fitting, it seems paramount, that the death of the Savior of the world should be a death that would never be forgotten.
The Crucifixion Was Public
Those orchestrating a death sentence against Jesus Christ, required assistance from the powerhouse of Rome. Jesus death required capture by armed soldiers, a very public trial, and a push by the high priest for those in the highest governing offices…. to make the proclamation, carry out the punishment, and employ death by crucifixion.
Crucifixion crosses were placed for good reason, at very public junctions, typically on hill-sides; a spectacle to be witnessed by as many passersby as possible, that all might take heed.
The gruesome scene of Christs crucifixion was made even more horrific, by the extreme amount of blood that poured from his back laid open from the violent scourging, and from his head, crowned in mockery with thorns. Isaiah prophesied,
He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, and….by his stripes we are healed.
The Crucifixion Was An Unforgettable Image
Many other death forms are quick, pain is minimal, and the event is perhaps more easy to erase from ones’ memory. Crucifixion, however, is slow. Jesus hung on the cross, between the heaven and earth which he had created, for hours. Time provided many there the opportunity as it were, to have this image embedded forever in their minds. Yes, it served the Romans purpose of determent, but more so, God’s purpose of an ongoing witness to this violent act against the sinless one, who would in 3 short days be conqueror over death itself.
The Crucifixion Was Planned By God
The plan of salvation was with God; as was Christ, before the foundation of the world. The Bible tells us
..the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
The Psalmist, the Prophets, foretold the coming event. David depicts the death of Jesus by crucifixion hundreds of years before the Romans had even conceived it.
I am poured out like water, all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like was, it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
The apostle Paul, in Galatians, reminds us of the OT passage from Deuteronomy that says
..cursed of God is every man that hangeth on a tree.
Jesus had to bear the sins of all. He bore the curse of sin and the resulting penalty.
He became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
God chose crucifixion as the means, whereby his Son, would be offered up.
It Is Finished And We Are Saved
And from that bloodied cross, Jesus comforted his beloved.
..he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!
From that bloodied cross, Jesus offered eternal life to one hanging beside him, and the hope to every generation that even deathbed confessions are possible with God.
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
And from that bloodied cross, Jesus uttered those final words, which we may never know the full depths of love they embody
“It Is Finished”.
Only GOD in his providence, could enter into humanity, allow himself to be hung as a spectacle on a cruel cross, despised and rejected of men, stricken, smitten and afflicted, but ultimately, to bear the sin for all, when the words were called out
It Is Finished.
Jesus
Lifted up was he to die, it is finished…was his cry. Now in heaven exalted high…. Hallelujah what a Savior.
Philip P. Bliss YouTubeVersion
Why do you think Jesus died on a cross? Contact us! and let us know what you think.
Brad Hewey
Brad offers up practical, scriptural advice from a perspective borne out of everyday life encounters. As we live and move and have our being…it’s the individual life lessons that most often present the greatest challenges, but can yield the richest blessings. We’ve all, as Christians had those faith-affirming moments, where we’ve had an overwhelming sense of God’s spirit, or his very presence “at a particular but, maybe random time”.
Brad was born and still resides in a small community in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, where he and his wife Karen raised their 3 children. Brad & Karen fellowship at the Greenland Bible Chapel, where Brad serves as an elder.
Brad loves meeting and engaging with people. His background in sales has provided opportunities to travel throughout the US and Canada, networking with people from all walks of life. Brad is a singer/songwriter and has recorded 3 Christian albums. Songs from his “Brighter Day” release, have aired on Christian Radio stations across Canada and two of Brad’s albums are on HopeStreamRadio’s playlist.
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