Lent: Why crucifixion?

The Atoning Sacrifice

When the Son of God visited humanity in human form, it honoured humans but humiliated him. He was born in a stable; a manger was his crib; as adult he had no place to stay; he was attacked by the leaders of the nation; he was stripped of his clothes and then crucified.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2).

Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 describes the suffering of the Messiah. Although the crucifixion is not mentioned the ordeal depicted is similar.

Some of Jesus’ referrals to his death did mention the cross (Matt. 20:19, 26:2, John 3:14, 8:28, 12:32). He knew his destiny.

The New Testament refers 22 times to the cross of Christ and six times to the cross of his followers. The verb “crucify” and “crucified” appear 38 times with reference to Christ, mainly during his trial and execution.

The crucified Christ was central in the message of the early church: “For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:22-24. 2:2).

Paul wrote to the Galatians that he portrayed the crucifixion of Christ so vividly to them, as if Christ was crucified in their midst (Gal. 3:1).

Peter reiterated to the Jewish leaders that the apostles performed miracles in the name of Jesus, crucified by the leaders, but raised from the dead by God (Acts 2:23-24, 36, 3:13-16, 4:10, 5:29-32).

The prophet (Dan. 2) interpreted the king’s dream about a statue made from various metals as symbolizing successive kingdoms (probably Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Grecian, and Roman), crushed to dust by a falling rock, which became a mountain (probably the Christ).

God sent his Son to Earth at the right time (Gal. 4:4), when the Greek language and Roman roads and peace would help to disperse the gospel. It was the time when the Romans used crucifixion for execution. God’s Son had to suffer this agonizing death to pay for the sins of man.

The cross of Christ was not accidental; it was planned by God. Many were crucified but only One brought salvation. The gruesome cross became the revered symbol of Christianity.

Jacob Van Zyl of Lethbridge is a retired counsellor and the author of several faith-based books.