The Crucifixion

Who, being a in a very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled Himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Philippians 2:3

Whatever you may think of Mel Gibson and his politics, he was instrumental in creating one of the most accurate depictions of the crucifixion in his movie, "the Passion of the Christ." We, as a people, have a tendency of "cleaning up" the crucifixion in our own minds in order to digest its atrocity. Due to the crucifixion, the symbol of the cross has become of paramount importance to our salvation. In Roman times, death on a cross was the form of capital punishment used for nototious criminals. It was excruciatingly painful and humiliating. Prisoners were nailed or tied to a cross and left to die. Death might not come for several days, and it usually came by suffocation when the weight of the weakened body made breathing more and more difficult. Jesus died as one who was cursed. How amazing that the perfect man should die this most shameful death, so that we would not have to face eternal judgment. What an amazing gift. And this gift can only be accepted in one way: not by working diligently in order to somehow make yourself "worthy," but by simply saying, "Yes!" to Jesus. Say "Yes" today, J.H.