Why Crucifixion - Part 2

October 4, 2021

Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again" (Matthew 20:18-19).

Crucifixion was a means of execution for the vilest of criminals. Each sin we commit earns us the death penalty. This penalty cannot be paid by any other means than death. (Ezekiel 18:4) Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die. (Romans 3:23) . . . all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 6:23) . . . the wages of sin is death.

Crucifixion was a shameful death. Not only was Jesus crucified, He was crucified between 2 thieves (Matthew 27:38). To make matters worse, He was crucified naked. The Bible reveals the shame of nakedness (Isaiah 47:3; Revelation 3:18; 16:15). Imagine having committed no crime or sin, yet fully exposed on a cross to all who passed by. Jesus must have felt shame to have been exposed to His mother, the other women, the apostle John, and a multitude of spectators. What humiliation Jesus endured for us! (Hebrews 12:2) . . . looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Sin brings great shame into our lives.

Jesus died an excruciatingly painful death. Why? Because sin is horrific and causes great pain. Sin is the cause of all suffering in our life and our world. The atonement for sin caused Jesus to suffer horrifically because sin is horrific to God. He will not look upon it or the one who is guilty of it. (Isaiah 53:5) He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed

Finally, Jesus was abandoned by God. Sin separates the soul from God. On the cross Jesus took upon Himself our sin; He became sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him, and died to take away our sin. But before He died, God turned His back on Jesus. Jesus cried out My God, My God, why have You forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46-47). We need to remember that sin estranges us from God, and if sin is not remedied, we will be abandoned by God in hell forever.

“He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; Surely he bore our sorrows, And by his stripes we are healed” (The Healer, Lois Irwin).

“Father, forgive us for taking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for granted. Remind us again of the horror He faced on the cross, and the horror we create in our lives and in the lives of others when we sin so capriciously. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the sorrow You bore on my behalf. I could never express my gratitude for saving me, even if I live 1,000 lifetimes. Bless Your holy name, Amen.”

Pastor

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