The Crucifixion of the Son of God
And when the centurion, who stood facing Him, saw that in this way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” -Mark 15:39
Jesus’ mangled body hung on the cross. His hands and feet pierced through with spikes—blood dripping from the crown of thorns that set on His head. His face was swollen from where the soldiers had spent the night before beating Him and ripping out His beard. His flesh was barely attached to the bones of His body due to the fierce whippings He had received.
The vulturous haters circled the cross, mocking Him yet curious to see if He might perform one more miracle. “He saved others; let’s see if He can save Himself!” they sneered.
They waited.
It became dark after the third hour.
They still waited.
And then, after Jesus had hung there for six hours, He cried out to His Father in a loud voice. And soon He breathed His last breath after declaring, “It is finished.”
As Jesus breathed His last breath, the temple curtain tore in two, the earth quacked, rocks split, and tombs were open.
The centurion, guarding Jesus, recognized the reality of what was happening as he proclaimed, “Surely this was the Son of God!”
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The Crucifixion Of The Son of God
The religious leaders hated Jesus. They should have been the first to recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah, but their desire for their own glory blinded them from the truth. They were the upper class of society; they thrived on their superior position of authority and power and relished in the praise they received from their peers.
When Jesus came along, He exposed their wickedness. He told them that they were like the whitewashed tombs; they looked good on the outside, but their insides were like dead men’s bones. (Matthew 23:27)
Jesus’ harsh speech offended them. His wisdom confounded them. And His popularity made them jealous. They tried to trick Him, trap Him, and stone Him but could not harm Him until the appointed time.
During the Pharisees’ mock trial, a few men brought false accusations against Jesus, but no one had ever seen Jesus do anything wrong because He lived a sinless life. However, when Jesus stated in His own words that He was the Son of God, the Pharisees tore their robes and, wallowing in their false piety, charged Jesus with blasphemy.
Jesus was eventually crucified and died on a wooden cross, but not all the religious leaders believed that Jesus was deranged or blasphemous. Joseph of Arimathea claimed Jesus’ body after His death and had Him taken to his own tomb, where they sealed Him in.
*spoiler alert- but not for long!
Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. -Hebrews 9:22
Jesus Questioned By Pontius Pilate
The religious leaders secretly tried and convicted Jesus for proclaiming to be God-the Son of the Most High. And although they wanted Him to be put to death, they did not have the power to kill Him. But they knew someone who did hold that power.
Binding Jesus in ropes and dragging Him to the courtyard of Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of their region, they insisted on the crucifixion of Jesus.
And Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him, “You have said so.” -Mark 15:2
The religious leaders coiled with hatred as Pontious Pilate asked Jesus directly if He was the King of the Jews. The Pharisees continued to spew their venomous accusations against Jesus, threatening Pilate if he did not convict Him. Jesus stood in silence as these men railed on Him until Pilate agreed to flog Jesus and release Him.
But that wasn’t enough. They wanted Him dead. So they stirred up the people to turn against Jesus. The same people who worshiped Jesus before the Passover as He fulfilled the prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9 fulfilled another prophecy by demanding Jesus’ crucifixion and the wretched murderer, Barabas, be released.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Isaiah 53:3
How terribly fickle we humans can be.
Pontius Pilate had the power to absolve Jesus from His death sentence. He didn’t believe Jesus had done anything deserving death. But to keep the evil religious leaders content, Pilate left the decision to the people. They could save Jesus or Barabas.
But they all cried out together, “Away with this man [Jesus], and release to us Barabbas”—a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” Luke 23:18-21
To show his disapproval of the matter, he had water brought out, and he literally washed his hands of the matter in view of everyone present, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” And they did. (Matthew 27:24-26)
Jesus, the Son of God Was Crucified
All four gospels tell of the crucifixion of the Son of God.
Matthew 27:26-54
Mark 15:15-40
Luke 23:1-48
John 19:16-30
Each gospel records Jesus’ humiliation and cruel treatment at the hands of the Roman soldiers. He was beaten beyond recognition, His head was pierced with a crown made from thorns and He was cruelly mocked for claiming to be the King of Jews.
As they led Jesus to Golgotha, the Place of a Skull, He crumbled under the weight of the cross. A man passing by, Simon of Cyrene, was ordered to carry Jesus’ cross up the hill.
The crowds followed Him, watching as His hands and feet were nailed to the cross. They saw the cross lifted up and dropped into the hole. “He saved others”, they chided, “Let Him save Himself!”
But He didn’t. Jesus had one mission while He was here on earth and it was to fulfill the will of the Father.
Jesus came as a baby, born like the rest of the human race. But Jesus was born without sin. He lived a life without sin; not because He was God, but because He was a man and the perfect Lamb of God. The Bible tells us that Jesus was tempted in every way that we all are tempted, yet He didn’t give in to that temptation–not in His thoughts or actions.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15
Hanging on the cross, He took on the sins of the world–not a conglomerate of sins, but literally, for every sin everyone of us who call Him Lord and Savior has or will commit–all of our sins were placed on Him.
The lie you’ve told, the little something you may have “taken by mistake” and never returned, the details you left out of something you’ve retold so others would see a situation your way.
The unforgiveness you refuse to let go of, the pity party you enjoy; every hateful word or every evil thought–Jesus took it all on Him while He was on the cross.
With each laborious breath, Jesus’ body raised and fell back against the cruel wooden cross. Blood running down His head began to dry and crust over His eyes, His hair, and His ears. He had endured the cruelness of the soldiers and as He was lifted up on the cross He prayed,
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
Below the cross the soldiers were casting lots for Jesus’ robe, the religious leaders scoffed at Him saying, “He saved others, let Him safe Himself!” Others began mocking, as well. Jeering Him as the King of the Jews, calling on Him to save Himself, and offering Him sour wine to drink.
The two criminals that hang on either side of Jesus watched in silence until one of them demanded, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him saying, “Do you not fear God? We are rightfully being punished, but this man is innocent.” And turning to Jesus the second man humbly said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into Your kingdom.” (Luke 23:39-42)
And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43
Jesus hung on the cross for three hours and then the sky turned black for another three hours, as the Son of God became condemnation for all who believe. The spotless Lamb of God became broken and bruised for our sins.
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
Jesus, The Son of God Raised
There are recorded eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection in all four gospels.
He Died
Jesus’ death on the cross was witnessed by people who were just there for the spectacle, a Roman centurion, and several of the women who chose to make a ministry of ministering to Jesus.
When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. Matthew 27:54-56
He Was Laid in a Tomb
Joseph of Arimathea, who was one of the religious leaders, asked for Jesus’ body to be buried in his tomb. After Pilate received confirmation that Jesus was truly dead from one of the Roman soldiers, he allowed Joseph to take the body down from the cross. The gospel of Mark records that Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph were also there to witness the burial.
And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him [Jesus] down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid. Mark 15:46
The Empty Tomb
Jesus’ body was laid in the tomb, a huge stone was rolled across the opening, and the Jewish leaders requested Roman soldiers to guard the tomb. Yet, when Mary and the other women arrive to prepare Jesus’ body for burial, the guards are gone, the tomb is empty and angels are waiting to tell the women the great news!
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” Luke 24:1-7
He Is Risen!
The women ran to where the disciples were hiding in fear of their own captivity. As they told the men what they had seen and heard, Peter and John ran towards to tomb to see what had happened. They found the tomb empty and the face cloth folded up and lying separate from the other burial cloths. Not yet knowing the full meaning, they went back to their homes.
Mary Magdalene stood outside the tomb, weeping and wondering who had taken Christ’s body. Who would have disaggregated the body of this precious man? He had delivered her from the bondage of being possessed by many demons. She had followed Him and watched as Jesus freed others from bondage, forgave their sins, healed their diseases, and brought others back to life. And now they had taken Him and no one knew where.
As Mary stood and turned around, she saw a man whom she assumed was the gardener. But as soon as He said her name, her eyes were opened to see the risen Savior standing there in front of her!
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. John 20:15-18
He Is Risen, Indeed!
After hearing the news of the empty tomb, two disciples were walking back to their village. On the road home, they encountered the risen Lord. They didn’t recognize Him at first, but after talking with them at length, before leaving them, Jesus revealed Himself to them.
The two disciples were so excited about their conversation with Christ that they ran all the way back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples. “The Lord has risen indeed!” they exclaimed.
And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Luke 24:33-34
As they were telling the great news of their encounter with the risen Lord, Jesus appeared in the room and proclaimed, “Peace to you!” The disciples, as you can imagine, were startled by His appearance, by Jesus assured them that He was NOT a ghost but truly was Himself risen from the dead. “Touch me, and see.” He invited them. And He showed them His hands and His feet, which bore the markings of the nails that had pierced through His flesh and bones.
And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. Luke 24:38-40
What Is The Message Of The Resurrection?
The message of The Resurrection is that God has all power. There is nothing God cannot do; He has power over life and death. No one else can claim that.
The Resurrection Day was the completed work of God’s plan of redemption for humankind. If Christ would have been crucified and not risen from the dead, He would have been considered just another great teacher or prophet. But His resurrection is absolute proof that He conquered death and fulfilled the Father’s plan.
Also, The Resurrection is a message of hope to all of us who call Christ Lord. Our hope is knowing that Jesus Christ was the first to be resurrected, and at His return, if we are not alive, we too will be resurrected into a new body!
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1 Corinthians 15:20
Please Share
Do you share in this great news that Christians can claim? Has there been a time when you chose to make Christ the Lord of your life?
The whole gospel that people talk about is an integral plan that the Creator of the Universe supernaturally ordained from the beginning of time, for us to gain eternal life is complicated beyond our full understanding. However, in simple human terms, this is the gospel and what is necessary for eternal life:
- God is the only God
- Jesus is the only begotten Son of God
- the Holy Spirit is the part of God that lives in us (after salvation)
- all people are sinners in need of a Savior
- As sinners, we are enemies of God
- Jesus, although He lived as a human, never sinned; He is the only person born that had no sin
- Jesus’ death on the cross provided a way for our sins to be covered
- God accepts Jesus’ work on the cross on our behalf
- If you believe these truths, and you choose to make Jesus Lord of your life, you can be saved
- Salvation is the gift of eternal life
Friend, I don't know where you are in your faith-walk with Christ, but if there's never been a time when you have sat down and had a conversation with the Heavenly Father about your eternal existence, please take a moment and do that now. All this Bible stuff can be learned in time. All you need to know now is that you are a sinner and Christ can forgive you of those sins. The Father is waiting for you to ask and choose Him as Lord and Savior of your life.
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Daniel 12:2
Do you know Him as Savior?
