He was Crucified

Matthew 27:35 they crucified him

Those who have seen, heard or known about the cross will have known that the cross is the cruelest method of execution ever been invented by man. Our Saviour was crucified by the Romans. The decision to crucify the Lord Jesus was made by Pilate, the cruel Roman governor who, five times in the gospel, declared that the Lord Jesus was innocent. The thief on the cross declared that the Lord Jesus did not deserve the crucifixion, and the Roman centurion admitted that the Lord Jesus was the Son of God. Why was the Lord Jesus crucified?

Because it was the plan of God
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Isaiah 53:10

God had, in the Old Testament, prophesied that the Saviour will come, be a suffering Saviour that would be tormented by men and killed by the authorities. The Jews were looking for freedom from the Roman conquerors and the Lord Jesus came doing many signs and wonders. They were hoping that He would be the one to set them free and give them back their land. However, the Lord had a different purpose. This led the people to be angry, and in their foolishness and blindness they rejected and cooperated with the chief priests to kill him. Yet, even in their blind rejection, God accomplished His will for the Lord Jesus to die for us on the cross!

Because he was made a curse for us

The Bible tells us that cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree. (Galations 3:13). We are all under the curse of the law, which is death, eternal separation from God. The breaking of the law brings this consequences upon all man. We are all doomed to a devil’s hell, and are under the curse of eternal death. However, when the Lord Jesus died on the cross, the Bible tells us that He became the curse for us. He bore the curse of death and our sin on Himself. He did not sin but He bore our sin upon Himself.

Because it is a picture of faith

In the Old Testament, God sent fiery serpents into Israel in judgment against their sin and people who were bitten by the snakes would die. God gave them an option; He instructed Moses to set up a bronze serpent in the wilderness, that whoever would look at this bronze serpent would be healed and live. When we see the cross and put our faith in Christ, we will have eternal life.

We may have heard this before, but we know in reality that the Lord was crucified because of us. He bore our sins on the cross and He paid the price of our iniquities when He hung on the tree.

“Lord Jesus, I thank you for your willingness to be the sacrifice for my sins. Lord I know that you died that I may live. Lord, I will never forget what you have done for me at the cross!”

May this be our personal prayer. May this Easter be different for us and that we will be more like the Lord Jesus!

Evangelist-Pastor Johnny Tan
Ambassador Baptist Church