5 Unique Characteristics of Christ’s Crucifixion

Two weeks ago the religious world and even the secular world in general was focused on and talking about the crucifixion of Christ on “Good Friday” and His resurrection on “Easter Sunday”.

This world has moved on to other issues and stories. Christians have not. Jesus’ vicarious death, burial, and resurrection is a weekly remembrance and celebration.

Today’s facebook Friday is from the page of my friend and preaching colleague Tommy Peeler. It’s based on a sermon he heard from Bill Crews in 1984.  Our preaching friends may find a 5 point sermon or communion talk from this post.

In the first century thousands were crucified. “During the last siege of Jerusalem hundreds of crosses daily arose, till there seemed not sufficient room nor wood for them” (Alfred Edersheim). Of those thousands crucified, how many of the victims could you name? If crucifixion was such a common but horrible death, what makes the cross of Jesus’ death stand out?

1.The Identity of the Victim
Who was He? He was God come in the flesh (John 1:1-3). He was the Maker of the world (John 1:10). He was the Word become flesh (John 1:14) and He came to reveal the Father (John 1:18)

2. The Innocence of the Victim
This is not to say that this never happened. No doubt there were some people crucified who did not deserve it. However, even they did not deserve death for the charges against them, they had sinned and done wrong.

It is striking how many connected with the cross declare Jesus’ innocence. Pilate (Luke 23:4, 14-15; 22; John 18:38; 19:4, 6), Herod (Luke 23:14-15), Pilate’s wife (Matt. 27:19), Judas (Matt. 27:4), the thief beside Him (Luke 23:41), and the centurion (Luke 23:47).
New Testament writers often affirm Jesus’ innocence of any sin (II Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; I Peter 2:22; I John 3:5).

3. The Willingness of the Victim
No doubt many went to the cross fighting and kicking but He went of His own free-will (John 10:17-18; Matt. 26:39). He could have called a legion of angels to defend Him (Matt. 26:52-54). He went of His own free-will. There was no other way they could have taken Him.

4. The Sacrificial Nature of His death
He did not die for His own sin, but for ours (Matt. 20:28; 26:28; Rom. 5:6-8 I Cor. 15:3-4). Isaiah 53:4-7 presents this in a dramatic way.

5. The Resurrection of the Victim
How many of those crucified were raised from the dead? He was (John 2:19-22; Matt. 17:22-23; 20:17-19; 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-35; John 20-21) and He gives hope to those who trust and build their lives on Him (John 11:25-26; I Cor. 15).

The cross is one of the great paradoxes of power, love, and justice in all history. As Fleming Rutledge wrote, “The crucifixion is the touchstone of Christian authenticity, the unique feature by which everything else is measured… it is the great paradox that gives the Christian gospel its unsettling power.”

“For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1 Cor 1:18-25)

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman