Jesus on the Cross is one of the most significant stories in world history. Jesus is the only beloved son of God whose sacrifice symbolises the Almighty’s love for humankind. Each of the four gospels in the New Testament of the Bible gives an account of Jesus’ crucifixion, with details about his capture and betrayal, his trial, his last words and more.
In this age of secularism and woke-ism, the importance of Jesus’s sacrifice seems to have been relegated to the back burner. This is why it is important to revisit the story of His crucifixion and its significance to Christianity today.
What is Jesus on the Cross?
Jesus on the Cross is the story of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the son of Mary and Joseph of Nazareth. We learn from the scriptures that Jesus spent the last few years before his crucifixion preaching the proclamation of God’s Kingdom. Perhaps, this would not have riled his enemies if He did not proclaim that He was the Son of God.
‘Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’. Jesus replied: “I am! And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven’.
The high priest tore his clothes, and said: ‘What further need have we of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy, haven’t you?’ Everyone ruled that he was guilty of death (Mk 14:61-64).
Rome was the world power at the time. The Jews’ condemnation of Jesus and His teachings were not enough to crucify him. Only the Roman Empire had the power to make that judgement. Therefore, the Jewish religious authority had to convince the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, of the “extreme danger” Jesus posed to the empire with His teachings. According to the prosecuting Jews, Jesus proclaimed Himself a messiah-king, which meant he was questioning the legitimate authority of Rome over those lands.
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Pilate was not convinced of those allegations and he even tried to offer to kill a thief named Barnabas, instead of Jesus. But the people insisted that they wanted Jesus dead. The Roman governor eventually caved to their demands and ordered that Jesus should die on the cross (Matthew 27 and John 18:28-40).
What happened to Jesus on the Cross?
Jesus was forced to carry his cross to Golgotha, where he would be crucified. When they came to the place called the Skull, he was stripped off his clothing and offered vinegar mixed with myrrh or gall to drink. He was crucified there alongside two criminals on his right and left. A sign, Titulus Crucis, was placed on the cross to indicate the reason for the condemnation: Jesus Nazarene King of the Jews.
John 19-20 said the sign was written in three languages – Hebrew, Latin and Greek. Then, the soldiers divided His garments among themselves and cast lots for his seamless robe. Knowing that He was about to die, Jesus said He was thirsty. Instead of water, the soldiers soaked a sponge in a jar of vinegar and put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant which they lifted to Jesus. After tasting the vinegar, Jesus said, “It is finished”, and bowed His head in death (John 19: 30).
When the soldiers saw that he had died, one of them pierced his side with a spear to be certain. Blood and water subsequently gushed from the wound. The Bible also disclosed the seven statements Jesus made shortly before his death.
- Then said Jesus, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do’ (Luke 23:34).
- And Jesus said unto him, ‘Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise’ (Luke 23:43).
- When Jesus, therefore, saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, ‘Woman, behold thy son!’ Then saith he to the disciple, ‘Behold thy mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home (John 19:26–27).
- And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (interpreted in English as ‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ (Mark 15:34).
- After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished and that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, ‘I thirst’ (John 19:28).
- When Jesus, therefore, had received the vinegar, he said, ‘It is finished’, and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost (John 19:30).
- And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, ‘Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit’. And having said this, he gave up the ghost (Luke 23:46).
The Bible also mentioned several supernatural events that happened after Jesus died. Eyewitnesses at the time of death include Mary Magdalene, Mary, mother of Jesus, Mary of Clopas, and Salome, wife of Zebedee.
Symbolism of Jesus on the Cross to Christians
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ is collectively known as the Passion, Suffering and Redemptive Death in Christian theology. The figure of Jesus on the Cross represents the symbol of love, the incarnation of Jesus’s mission of faith and life for every Christian.
In modern times, the story of Jesus on the Cross may seem barbaric. There might even be an abundant dose of political correctness about it. Think about it. Jesus was tortured after his arrest, stripped of all dignity, mocked and eventually killed most horribly by those whom He came to save. However, to Christians, the cross is a powerful emblem of faith., a reminder, that God loves us so much that he was willing to sacrifice His only begotten son to save humankind (John 3:16).
There is no greater love than this and this is what Jesus on the cross signifies. The cross signifies destiny fulfilled, the renewal of that covenant with God, frustrated by the disobedience of Adam and Eve. The blood of Jesus, His tears, cleanses man from all guilt. It is left to man to accept this sacrifice and be saved from eternal condemnation.
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