The Crucifixion, The Foundation Of Our Faith

The Crucifixion, The Foundation Of Our Faith

John 19:1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.

2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,

3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews: and they smote him with their hands.

4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.

5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man.

6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.

7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; …

John 19:16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Many songs have been written that remind us about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The crucifixion is the cornerstone of our faith. If there had been no crucifixion there would have been no resurrection.

So if there would have been no crucifixion we wouldn’t have the opportunity to be saved. The crucifixion gives us hope. It gives hope to those who are dead in faith, and also to those who are presently living by faith.

1 Corinthians 15:19-20 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

The crucifixion is the foundation of our faith, in this life and in the life to come.

History reveals to us that crucifixion carried with it a horrible stigma and disgrace.

Crucifixion was usually reserved for the worst kinds of criminals or for slaves. It was a rare case for a Roman to be crucified. But among the Jews, not only did crucifixion carry with it a horrible stigma but it also carried with it the curse of God.

Deuteronomy 21:22-23 And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

The Jewish culture understood this verse to mean that this method of death brought a divine curse on the one crucified.

For three and a half years Jesus was full of power and authority. When He spoke demons fled. When He raised His hands, the winds obeyed him and calmed down. He cleansed the lepers from the incurable disease called leprosy. He healed all who came into contact with Him of sickness and disease.

But on this particular day, Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah did not appear as the healer or the miracle worker, or the one who devils ran from, but He appeared as the Lamb of God “slain from the foundation of the world”.

There were those who thought He had lost his power and authority, but what they didn’t understand, was that it was all a part of his divine purpose. What they could not comprehend, is that He was fulfilling God’s plan.

What purpose are we fulfilling? Whose plan are we fulfilling?

The soldiers mocked Jesus in front of his followers during His trial.

Then as the religious rulers of that day encouraged them, they put royal garments on His body and a crown of thorns on His head and continued to mock Him. [John 19:2-4]

Crowns have always symbolized authority. The larger and more costly the crown, the greater the influence or jurisdiction given to the one who wears it. But instead of putting a gold crown on the head Jesus, they put a crown of thorns on His head.

It’s interesting to note that thorns were the result of Adam’s sin in the garden. [Genesis 3:17-18]