Why Did Jesus Die By Crucifixion? Series

Many people in the world will be having fun in a few weeks because a baby was born 2000 years ago. Sadly, many forget that baby Jesus was born to be the Savior who must suffer and die. People don’t like to talk about Jesus’ death but Jesus’ death is really how God shows His love for people. If we desire to truly experience God’s love, we must grasp the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, not just his birth.

The Word of God in the Old Testament, over and over again, alluded to the fact that a Messiah is to come to suffer and die for people’s sins. Jesus Christ Himself said, over and over again, to His disciples that He is the Messiah who will die for people’s sins. Let us note however that there is no direct verse in the Old Testament that states that the Messiah would be crucified.

You see, Jesus could have died in many other ways. Something for us to think about to begin the message: Why did Jesus have to die by crucifixion??

Did you know that Roman citizens were never crucified; but yet they used it often for non-Romans!

And God states this in the Old Testament in Deutoronomy 21:22-23 - If someone guilty of a capital offense is put to death and their body is exposed on a pole, you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse. Let me emphasize what God Himself stated…. Anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse!

And why did the Romans crucify the other 2 besides Jesus??

The 2 crucified beside Jesus were criminals, punished publicly to deter others from committing similar crimes!

Jesus Christ was crucified because it was the most publicly humiliating way to die!

Let us open our bibles now to Mark 15…

As we read our passage today, think about this other question: What led to Jesus being crucified? Read along with me Mark 15:1-20….

What led to Jesus being crucified?

Let us not forget what we have noted in the past..

1. Jesus Himself told His disciples that He would be put to death on a cross.

2. Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus and handed Him to the Jewish Leaders.

3. v1: the Jewish leaders planned to have Jesus killed and handed Him to Rome! Now, the Jewish Leaders accused Jesus of blasphemy, why didn’t they just stoned Jesus to death??

a. didn’t want guilt

b. were evil schemers having someone else do the dirty work

c. Romans crucified for public humiliation

What else led Jesus to be crucified?

4. v6-14: the people called for crucifixion (they saw Jesus worst than the murderer Barabbas)

5. v15-20: Roman Governor Pilate ordered the crucifixion and the soldiers executed it!

And so, Who crucified Jesus Christ??

Yes, God used Judas, the Jewish leaders, and Barabbas to lead Christ to His crucifixion, but the people cried for His crucifixion! And what was God’s role in Jesus’ crucifixion??

God allowed Jesus to be crucified to die for all people’s sin! And so, the complete truth is: God allowed Jesus Christ to be crucified by all people, including sinners you and me!

Let us summarize the truths based on our passage this morning:

God Jesus Christ became a human being to die for people’s sins!

Jesus Christ was crucified because it was the most publicly humiliating way to die!

Christmas is love because Jesus was born to die for our sins!

Jesus’ crucifixion was perfectly executed in time schedule and human events!

Think about how amazing this is: The Jews hated the Roman Empire and all the disciples scattered in fear when Jesus was arrested! But yet… God allowed the Secular Roman Empire to rule the world to provide a way for the crucifixion of Jesus for our sins!!

Are we starting to hate our world leaders? Does our world today seem to be more and more secular? God always has a plan for our good no matter how we seem to think everything is going bad!

How are we responding to God and Jesus Christ with our lives today based on these truths?

Take a moment to quietly ponder and pray about these things………..