KBM The Crucifixion

We are quickly coming to an end on this series of lessons on the “Life of Christ.” Today, we will be studying the “reason for” Jesus’ crucifixion. As Jesus had been saying to his disciples for several years now, his ministry was about the “kingdom of God” and our “reconciliation.” This would only be possible through his sacrifice which had been prophesied over a thousand of years earlier.

Psalm 22:14–18 ESV

14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— 17 I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; 18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

This prophecy and that of Isaiah 52-53 are some of the most comprehensive on the Messiah’s sacrifice but there are tons of prophecies in the Old Testament. The Messiah’s back was to be beaten and his hands and feet nailed to the cross (Isaiah 50:6; Psalm 22:16). His garments would be divided and he would be given vinegar and gall to drink (Psalm 22:18; Psalm 69:21). The Messiah’s bones were not to be broken because he was the antitype to the passover lamb (Exodus 12:46; Psalm 34:20; John 19:33; 1 Corinthians 5:7). It was even prophesied that the Messiah would receive a burial which was very uncommon for anyone crucified (Isaiah 53:9). So as you can see Jesus’ crucifixion should not have been “unexpected.”

A question people often ask is “why the cross?” Why was Jesus hung on a cross when the Jews were familiar with many forms of capital punishment? The Jews were not “unfamiliar” with crucifixions and had used them in the past but typically, historically speaking, they preferred stoning, burning, decapitation, and strangulation over crucifixion. So again we ask the question, “why the cross.” First, the Messiah had to die in some fashion that involved the shedding of blood, because without this there is no removal of sin.

Hebrews 9:22 ESV

22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Because the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and all mankind has sinned who has reached the age of accountability (Romans 3:23) and deserves to then die; it was determined that God’s Son would offer his life in exchange for mankind’s.

1 Corinthians 15:3 ESV

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

Secondly, under the Old Testament, hanging a body on a tree or cross was a curse on that person (Deuteronomy 21:23). Crucifixion then was a most shameful punishment and was by design meant for the worst criminals (Galatians 3:13). The reason the cross is called “a tree” so often is biblically by design to put everyone back to Deuteronomy 21:23. Why, because Jesus not only died to take away our sins but to remove our shame and curse of death sin brought us.

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Lastly, the cross was chosen because there needed to be a witness. The “cross” became a silent witness for who was really a Christian. It transformed from a symbol of embarrassment to a symbol of the saved which is why we are to “take up our cross daily” (Luke 9:33).

The cross, which had been prophesied would be the Messiah’s sacrifice, was chosen because it allowed blood shed to remove our sins, it allowed for the removal of our shame and guilt, and it provided a witness that could stand the test of time. Next week we will dive closer into what Jesus physically went through on that Friday of his crucifixion.