Walkway Reflections 9: The Crucifixion

The Romans perfected execution by crucifixion to an art. It was reserved for the lowest of criminals and carried out to inflict the maximum amount of pain before death.

The Romans did not tie the convict to the cross. They used tapered square spikes about five-and-a-half inches long and drove them through the wrist and feet, causing excruciating and intolerable pain.

Ultimately, one died by suffocation. To breathe, the convict was forced to push himself up on his feet to allow for the lungs to expand. As the body weakened and pain in the feet and legs became unbearable, he would eventually trade breathing for pain and exhaustion until the lungs collapsed and the heart finally failed.

Why choose such a horrible death?

Why would God allow His only son to experience what is probably the most gruesome way to die in all of human
history?

The sacrifice on the cross reveals how repulsive sin really is. But it also shows us the awesome magnitude of God’s love. God put your sin on his Son and punished it there, so that you would be free.

Why?

For moral duty?

Heavenly obligation?

Paternal requirement?

No. God is required to do nothing.

John 3:16 reads that,

God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only son.

The motivation was love. The motivation was you.

Paraphrased from
He Chose the Nails
by Max Lucado

Walkway Reflections: Introduction
Walkway Reflections 1: The Garden
Walkway Reflections 2: The Betrayal
Walkway Reflections 3: The Trial
Walkway Reflections 4: The Verdict
Walkway Reflections 5: The Whip
Walkway Reflections 6: The Curse
Walkway Reflections 7: The Cross
Walkway Reflections 8: The Two Simons
Walkway Reflections 9: The Crucifixion
Walkway Reflections 10: The Mother
Walkway Reflections 11: The Promise
Walkway Reflections 12: The Darkness
Walkway Reflections 13: The Cloth
Walkway Reflections 14: The Table