Why Was Jesus Crucified?
Christ's Chosen Method of Death
Crucifixion was in use as a form of torturous execution long before Christ was born. Its history can be traced back to the Phoenicians.
Crucifixion was a horrific method of death for it caused prolonged and profound suffering. Often the victim languished for days and days before finally succumbing to death. To add to the mental and physical suffering, victims were stripped naked and suffered shame and ridicule by onlookers.
But why did Christ have to die by crucifixion?
Stoning for the Crime of Blasphemy
The Jews’ law demanded that a blasphemer be stoned. They tried to stone Him, but God would not permit Him to die this way.
“Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.” “…but he escaped out of their hand,” according to John 11:31 and vs.39.
Was It the Cross that Killed Jesus?It’s difficult to understand how Christ could have agreed to undergo such torment, though the physical and emotional torture was not what killed Him.
For when the soldiers came to break His legs to speed His death, they found Him already dead. “But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs,” according to John 19:33.
Indeed, Pilate was surprised at Jesus’ quick death, for it was unusual for one to die so quickly by crucifixion. “And Pilate marveled if he were already dead,” according to Mark 15:44
The Crushing Burden of Sin and Abandonment by God
It's believed physical suffering did not kill Jesus, horrible as the experience must have been. In the darkest hours before His arrest and also during His crucifixion, Christ lost sight of the victory that would be His.
Instead, He experienced extreme agony and hopelessness at the thought of being cursed by God and cut off from Him. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He said, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death.” (Matthew 26: 38.)
A little while later, He “fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” (Matthew 26:39) And again, as He hung on the cross, “Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lamasabachthani? Which is being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34) It appears it was this separation from God that caused Jesus' death.
What separated Christ from God the Father? The weight of the world’s sins separated Jesus from God. “You iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you,” according to Isaiah 59: 2
The Ultimate Sentence for RebellionAnd here is the reason that Christ was crucified and not killed in some other way. He chose to take upon Himself the ultimate sentence for rebellion against God, which should have been ours. Humanity should have been cut off forever from God, but instead Christ took that punishment for us, that we might experience God's ever-present love for us.
Cursed By God
For in the Jewish law, only the vilest criminals were hanged on a tree. When a criminal was hanged on a tree, it signified his utter condemnation by God. There was no hope at all for that soul in the day of judgment. To be hanged on a tree was to be cursed.
It was this ultimate punishment for our rebellion against our Creator that Christ took in our stead. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree,” according to Galatians 3:13. In fact, it appears it was a choice He freely made for his people. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.” (John 3:16)
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