And so we come to the last day. The pressure and plotting against Jesus has reached a climax. The great Creator, Son of the Father, has left his glory behind and now faces the final humiliation. Not enough to be unrecognised as the Son of God. Not enough to be rejected and opposed as the King of Israel. Not enough to be misunderstood as the revealer of the Father.
Now the ignominious death of crucifixion awaits him. Why does he need to die this way? Why not a more humane death? Why does he need to die at all, for that matter?
His death shows the real state of human opposition to God. Fierce, vengeful, intolerant, uncompromising. His death shows the depths of human sin and the wickedness of which humans are capable. Any study of history, or of current affairs, shows the same viciousness, cruelty and evil that can be perpetrated by all kinds of people on other human beings.
His death shows the terrible nature of the judgement of God. In turn it shows the dire consequences of human rebellion. It points to the holiness and justice of God. His death shows the love of God at the same time. Why does he need to die? From one point of view he doesn't. He chooses to die in the place of sinners so that they can finally enjoy the great blessing God intended when he first created them.
His death opens the way for sinners to live in the presence of God without sin, and without accusation. It enables sinners to finally be like the true image of God. To be like the Son. The destiny God intended all along, can finally be realised because of the Son's death. Now there can be many sons and daughters who live with the character of the Son and not of Adam.
We may not know, we cannot tell, What pains He had to bear; But we believe it was for us He hung and suffered there.
Dale