He Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels
To Destroy The World And Set Him Free.
He Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels,
But He Died Alone For You And Me.

The cruel Roman imagination went far beyond others in that day and time. They invented crucifixion as a way to force obedience to their rules, deterring people from committing crimes, as they saw as crimes, against their empire.  Imagine the discussion—“How can we punish criminals and revolutionists who rise up among the populace under our control while showing our strength and power over this empire?”  “The punishment process must be so completely distasteful and sickening that all those who see it—and we will make sure they do—will comply to our rules.”

One sick mind speaks up, “I know.  How about a slow torture that inflicts enough pain to bloody and weaken the accused without death coming too quickly?”  Others chime in, “Let’s see how long it would take for a human to die after we nail their hands and feet to two planks, one for outstretched arms and the other for the rest of the body to lay on.”  “But what will happen when we raise the body for all to see while placing the vertical plank in the ground?”  “The nail spikes have to be long enough to go through the body and attached deeply into the planks.”  “Let’s add rope to hold their bodies there in case the flesh is too weak.” 

“Nail between the bones, that’s the answer, —that will hold them until death comes.”  “Added bonus, the nails in their feet will not only hold them there, it will enable them to push up from their nailed feet so they can catch a quick breath as the lungs will be hard-pressed to breathe normally.”  “That will cause even more pain but that’s the goal, right? —To prolong death in front of all who will pass by?”

Crucifixion became a method of capital punishment in which the victim was tied or nailed to a large wooden cross, beam or stake and left to hang until eventual death. The word crucifixion was not used then but invented later to describe the pain the victim suffered.  The word “excruciating,” that we use causally to describe our pain is a derivative of the Latin word crucifixion. 

Jesus the Christ, the Messiah come to save us from our sins.  He suffered greatly beyond the beatings, abusive mocking, and humiliating torture because God, His Father, would turn his back on His One and Only Son, also Son of Man (feeling all pain) as He carried our sins (the sins of the world then and now) on His shoulders.  God cannot look upon sin or be where sin resides.

In essence, the soldiers unknowingly nailed our sins, (and their sins), to those planks that formed a cross.  Jesus endured excruciating pain and eventual death for you and for me.  Yes, it’s personal.

He Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels
To Destroy The World And Set Him Free.
He Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels,
But He Died Alone For You And Me.

Jesus had the power to stop the malicious act of suffering and dying —but He did not.  More than the nails and rope—Love for us held our Savior on the cross of punishment that should have been ours. 

This thought occurs to me right now: What then, can possibility be so “excruciating” in our lives that Jesus cannot handle and see us through? 

Matthew 27, The Message

The Crucifixion

^27-31 The soldiers assigned to the governor took Jesus into the governor’s palace and got the entire brigade together for some fun. They stripped him and dressed him in a red robe. They plaited a crown from branches of a thornbush and set it on his head. They put a stick in his right hand for a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mocking reverence: “Bravo, King of the Jews!” they said. “Bravo!” Then they spit on him and hit him on the head with the stick. When they had had their fun, they took off the robe and put his own clothes back on him. Then they proceeded out to the crucifixion.

^32-34 Along the way they came on a man from Cyrene named Simon and made him carry Jesus’ cross. Arriving at Golgotha, the place they call “Skull Hill,” they offered him a mild painkiller (a mixture of wine and myrrh), but when he tasted it he wouldn’t drink it.

^35-40 After they had finished nailing him to the cross and were waiting for him to die, they killed time by throwing dice for his clothes. Above his head they had posted the criminal charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews. Along with him, they also crucified two criminals, one to his right, the other to his left. People passing along the road jeered, shaking their heads in mock lament: “You bragged that you could tear down the Temple and then rebuild it in three days—so show us your stuff! Save yourself! If you’re really God’s Son, come down from that cross!”

^41-44 The high priests, along with the religion scholars and leaders, were right there mixing it up with the rest of them, having a great time poking fun at him: “He saved others—he can’t save himself! King of Israel, is he? Then let him get down from that cross. We’ll all become believers then! He was so sure of God—well, let him rescue his ‘Son’ now—if he wants him! He did claim to be God’s Son, didn’t he?” Even the two criminals crucified next to him joined in the mockery.

^45-46 From noon to three, the whole earth was dark. Around mid-afternoon Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

^47-49 Some bystanders who heard him said, “He’s calling for Elijah.” One of them ran and got a sponge soaked in sour wine and lifted it on a stick so he could drink. The others joked, “Don’t be in such a hurry. Let’s see if Elijah comes and saves him.”

⁵⁰ But Jesus, again crying out loudly, breathed his last.

^51-53 At that moment, the Temple curtain was ripped in two, top to bottom. There was an earthquake, and rocks were split in pieces. What’s more, tombs were opened up, and many bodies of believers asleep in their graves were raised. (After Jesus’ resurrection, they left the tombs, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.)

⁵⁴ The captain of the guard and those with him, when they saw the earthquake and everything else that was happening, were scared to death. They said, “This has to be the Son of God!”

^55-56 There were also quite a few women watching from a distance, women who had followed Jesus from Galilee in order to serve him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the Zebedee brothers.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We learn that there is nothing on this earth that we will suffer that Jesus did not suffer at the hands of a dark, sinful world.  Jesus understands all that we are going through right now. 

Because God knows and loves, He sent His Son to save us.  Jesus did exactly what the Father said to do.  Scripture foretold every detail through God’s prophets and it happened just the way it was written centuries before it happened. 

Jesus’ sacrifice provided the Way for us to rise above the suffering that sin causes, be reconciled to God, the Father and be set free from all sin.  Pain still happens in a sin filled world but it no longer defines us with final death.  Because of Jesus we now look forward to life forever in a place where tears, suffering and pain no longer exist.  Jesus secured Life eternal for each one who believes in Him.

Jesus’ death tore the “curtain barrier” that separated mankind from God.  Before Jesus died, only human, appointed priests could go behind the curtain to atone (cover up) the sins of humans for a period of time while presenting animal sacrifices –but this act did not remove sins.  Jesus removed all sins by His sacrificial act—once and for all for all who believe.  “The Lamb of God” shed His blood as the final sacrifice for our sins.

We no longer need to go through a priest who speaks for us on the other side of the curtain.  The veil that separates is gone!  Lambs “without blemish” are no longer needed. The One and Only without sin paid the price and removed all sins from all who believe.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

Because of this sacrificial act we are given full access to God through our Advocate, Jesus!  Jesus is the only Way to God.  He is Truth.  He is Life eternal for all who believe, repent in His Name and follow His Holy Spirit’s guiding.

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16, NKJV

Believe and be saved.  Forever.

Lord,

There are not enough words invented in our language to express my gratitude for saving my soul for eternity.  So, by your power working in me, I will rejoice and be glad, even in challenging circumstances, to live a life of gratitude as praise to you for all you have done to save us.In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen!  Yes!  I believe!