8. Crucified

Jesus was arrested by Roman soldiers, surrounded by a mob armed with swords and clubs. Then, in the course of a single night, He was dragged from one trial to another—before the high priest, the king, and Pontius Pilate. As the Roman governor, Pilate pronounced Jesus innocent, but under pressure from the crowd, he had Jesus scourged. When the crowd was not satisfied, he handed Jesus over to be crucified ( John 19:16).

What must have gone through the minds of angels as they watched what was happening on that cross? They had gasped in wonder when they saw the Son of God take human flesh as He was born into the world. Now they saw that flesh torn by a whip, a crown of thorns being embedded in His head, and nails piercing His hands and feet.

Man’s sin reached its full horror and its most awful expression at the cross. We had disobeyed God’s commands. Now we were crucifying God’s Son. If ever there was a moment in human history when God’s judgment had to fall, this was it.

Jesus knew that God’s judgment would come, but He cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34 niv). He was saying, “Don’t let it fall on them; let it fall on Me. Let Me be the lightning rod for Your judgment on their sin.” This is the heart of the gospel. Jesus took the penalty for our sins so that we might be forgiven.

Jesus’ prayer, “Father, forgive them,” covers the sin of every per- son who will come to Him. If it could cover the sin of those who nailed Jesus to the cross, it can cover every sin of yours.

Paradise is opened

Two thieves were hanging on crosses, one on either side of Jesus. Having pursued a life of crime, they had faced human justice and were now paying the price. Soon, death would relieve their suffer- ing, but then they would enter the presence of God where they would face divine justice. Their position seemed hopeless.

Both joined the crowd in ridiculing Jesus (Matthew 27:44). But as death drew near, something changed. One of them had a new awareness that soon he would enter the presence of God, and while the other thief continued reviling Jesus, this man rebuked him: “Do you not fear God?” He had heard Jesus praying, “Father, forgive them.” Perhaps Jesus could forgive him too.

And He said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And [Jesus] said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42–43)

Paradise! This man had made a tragic waste of his life, but Jesus promised him an immediate translation, through death, into a life of undiluted joy. Suddenly this man, who had been on the brink of hell found that, because of Jesus, he was about to enter the joy of heaven. Jesus opened the way back to God’s presence and blessing, not only for the thief, but for all who will trust in Him.

The sun stopped shining

Jesus had suffered the judgment of men. Now, He would endure the judgment of God, and as He entered into the heart of His sufferings, God kept the sun from shining: “It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour” (Luke 23:44).

In these hours of darkness, Jesus bore our guilt and absorbed God’s wrath. He endured all this alone, without the comfort of His Father’s love, and in the depth of His suffering, He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34).

God tells us what Jesus was doing in that awful darkness:

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree. (1 Peter 2:24)

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.

All we like sheep have gone astray;

    we have turned—every one—to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

    the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:5–6)

These Scriptures, and many more, point to the marvelous truth that God reconciles sinners to Himself through Jesus Christ.

Death is subdued

After three hours, the darkness passed. The judgment poured out on Jesus was exhausted and spent. Justice was satisfied, and Jesus shouted in triumph, “It is finished” ( John 19:30).

All that was needed to redeem God’s people had been accom- plished: Forgiveness was released, condemnation was removed, and heaven was opened for all who would trust in Jesus.

Then Jesus called out with a loud voice, “‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this, he breathed his last” (Luke 23:46). When someone dies, their voice becomes weaker and weaker until they are hardly able to speak. No one speaks in a loud voice at the moment of death. But Jesus did.

Jesus was not overcome by death. He said, “No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again” ( John 10:17– 18). The life of Jesus was given, not taken. He gave Himself for us.

Jesus has changed the nature of death for all who believe. When He died, the judgment and condemnation that was due to us was poured out on Him. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).