Learning the Jesus Way of LifeSample

The Crucifixion

Pray: Jesus, give me the faith to go where you go, do what you do, trust what you say, and love how you love. Today, I commit to following you. Amen.

Two thousand years ago, a nobody from Nazareth launched a revolution that would remake the world. A revolution that, still to this day, we’re living in the wake of. The holidays we celebrate, the way we measure time, the values we hold, and the very structure of our societies have been radically altered by the influence of a poor peasant born under the shadow of the Roman Empire. An empire whose ethics could best be described as “might makes right,” because if you had the power, then you were the man or woman of the hour. If you didn’t, then the best thing you could do was keep your head down and your mouth shut.

This ragged rabbi from the region of Galilee must have missed the memo. Because He stepped onto the stage of history with a very specific mission and a very clear message.

His mission? To rescue people from the disease of sin, repair their relationship with God, and restore their purpose of partnering with God in His good plans for the world.

His message? “Repent and believe for the kingdom of God has come near.” Translation: The time has finally arrived for the rule and reign of God to take root in history. And everyone everywhere has been invited to be a part of His kingdom. If you want in, all you have to do is turn away from your self-ruled way of life and commit yourself to the rightful King of Creation.

The powers that be had a problem with that. Because if God is king, then by definition, Caesar wasn’t. If what this traveling preacher taught was actually right, then the priests and teachers of the law were horribly wrong.

So, the priests, the supposed-to-be servants of God who had become little more than puppets of Rome, partnered with Israel’s oppressor to put an end to this troublemaker masquerading as the Messiah. They dealt with Him the way Rome always dealt with traitors, rebels, and slaves—a violent and bloody display known as crucifixion.

The process begins with a trial, because nobody should be punished without a fair hearing. But, the trial this teacher was given was anything but fair. He was taken by force in the middle of the night, not to a court of law, but to the home of the high priest. After a parade of false witnesses with their false accusations, the verdict was declared: guilty.

Next, the innocent man branded a criminal was taken to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, because only he could put a man to death. Even Pilate realized this whole thing was a sham, but because of the social pressure and voice of the mob, he gave in and sentenced the revolutionary rabbi to death by crucifixion.

This sentence was about so much more than just punishing the criminal. Crucifixion sent a clear and brutal message: This is the “reward” given to anyone foolish enough to defy the supremacy of Rome.

The soon-to-be-dead man was whipped, beaten, mocked, ridiculed, and shamed. A crown of thorns was jammed onto His head until blood started dripping down His face. A rugged wooden cross was placed on His back, and He was then forced to carry it to a hill outside the city. At the top of the hill, this innocent man was placed on the cross He carried. Nails were driven into His hands and feet, piercing flesh, bones, and tendons.

Hours before, this man had been holding the hopes of a nation, but now, as His death approached, it was obvious that what little hope remained would soon die with Him.

Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Matthew 27:37 NIV

Everyone there would have understood the message. Just as they drove the nails into Jesus’ hands and feet, they drove the point home that Jesus was a failure and everyone who believed in Him was a fool. No man, nation, or god could stand against the might of Rome and live.

If that was how the story ended, then this nobody from Nazareth would have remained nameless. Lost to the pages of history. But that’s not where the story ends. Because Jesus was no ordinary man, and His name is no ordinary name.

Just after three in the afternoon, Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last. As He did, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, the earth shook, rocks split, tombs broke open, and people who had been dead lived again.

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27:54‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus’ death was so spectacular, so shocking, that the very men who murdered Him acknowledged His divine identity as the Son of God. Somehow, His death, an event that should have put a stop to the movement He started, inspired faith in the people who executed Him. So it should come as no surprise that a few decades later, there were followers of Jesus spread across the Roman Empire, whose numbers and commitment were growing daily. Because the Spirit of Jesus was still moving. One of those followers, while imprisoned and awaiting his own execution, wrote these words:

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9–11 NIV

Nobody would have guessed that placing the charge over Jesus’ head, “This is Jesus, king of the Jews,” would foreshadow God placing His name above every other name. Nobody would have imagined that those Roman soldiers pretending to bow to Him would serve as a signpost pointing to the eventual day when every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth will bow at His name. Nobody would have ever thought that those soldiers recognizing Jesus as the Son of God would prophesy the day when every tongue acknowledges Him as Lord.

His name will never be forgotten, because He was so much more than just an ordinary man. He’s the Son of the Living God, who rescued us from sin and repaired our relationship with God so we can play a part in His plan to restore the world. He’s the Savior King who defeated death and disarmed the powers of darkness by dying. He’s the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world by His sacrifice.

His name is Jesus.

Application: The Jesus way of life is shaped by the cross. In a world that cries out, “might makes right,” Jesus proved that love truly does conquer all. Our sinful desires will drive us to try to get what we want through violence and conquest. But Jesus invites us to choose a path defined by surrender and sacrifice. What expectations have you placed on God that you need to surrender? What dreams do you need to let go of because they aren’t God’s best? Who do you need to sacrifice for so you can show them God’s love in a visible way? What things do you need to sacrifice to draw closer to Jesus and the life He has for you? As you consider these questions, ask the Holy Spirit to show you what it looks like to crucify your old life so Christ can live in you.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 NIV