Glad Jesus Died The Way He Did

Why do Christians delight in the suffering and death of Jesus Christ?  

Have you ever thought that this might appear bizarre to people?  To some it might appear sadistic, grotesque, even eerie--surely something to be avoided.  To others it might seem self-serving and selfish--having someone else suffer death for your own salvation.  To yet others it might be considered an odd religion, not very uplifting, and one with a harsh God--requiring death for our sins.

It is the Story We Tell

Why did Jesus have to die such a horrible and shameful death?  Couldn’t he just have died a normal death--perhaps in his old age, or from natural causes?  Why is it important that His death occur the way it did with such violence and disgrace?

It is because God would show His righteousness most openly and gloriously in this manner.  It shows the magnitude or our sin and the excellence of God’s holy wrath against it.  It forever serves to remind us of the heinous nature of our sin, its shame, and the need for justice against it; and so, our true and desperate need of salvation to come from God.  

Justice would be done; and the unjust would be justified by the work of the Just One (Romans 3:21-26).

We are That Bad, Really

Many people wonder, “Are we really that bad?”  Yes, we are.  All of us are sinful at the core of our being, rebellious against heaven.  We do not give God the glory He deserves.  Ask them, “do you worship Him perfectly?”  We do not live in an acceptable righteousness.  Ask them, “do you reflect His holiness perfectly?”

We are supposed to be repulsed and offended by the sufferings and the cross of Christ.  It is impossible to look at this treatment of Jesus (knowing who He is and what He is about, even hoping in Him for salvation) and then think that one’s own goodness is good enough to get to heaven.  Such would be serious self-delusion and self-righteousness, and showing oneself even worse than those who rejected God and crucified His Christ.  

Our nauseated response to the unjust treatment of Jesus should become our disposition about our own sin.  Then, we can find true knowledge and true salvation from Him who would suffer at the hands of men, and yet take our place as the guilty ones before God.

He is That Good, Really

Each Gospel author has his own emphasis when telling the Crucifixion story.  Luke shows Jesus’ innocence and righteousness throughout the whole ordeal.  He ends his Gospel the way he began it, telling us about Jesus’ sinlessness.

• The Innocent One On Trial (22:66-23:12)
• The Innocent One Condemned (23:13-25)
• The Innocent One Crucified (23:26-49)
• The Innocent One Vindicated (23:50-24:12)

Luke would have us cherish our Lord Jesus as the Innocent One.  All who will read his book are offered forgiveness of sins by putting their trust in Him as their Savior.

When we tell the Gospel story, let us boldly open up to people the full purposes of Jesus’ suffering and dying the way He did.  In doing so, we will make the path to salvation much clearer for them.