04/19/2025
Why would the Messiah be crucified? That’s a question that cuts to the heart of Christianity. If Jesus truly was sent by God, if he really is the Messiah and even divine, then why did he die such a shameful, brutal death? And if the resurrection is the proof of his identity, what exactly does it prove?
The Scandal of the Cross
Crucifixion was not just a method of ex*****on. It was a public warning. The Roman Empire used it to humiliate rebels, criminals, and political threats. It wasn’t only about killing the person, it was about erasing their legacy. In Jewish thought, death by crucifixion also seemed to carry a spiritual condemnation. “Anyone hung on a tree is under God’s curse” (Deut 21:23).
For many Jews in the first century, the idea of a crucified Messiah was offensive, even absurd. The Messiah was expected to restore Israel’s freedom, often imagined as a military leader or king who would cast off foreign oppression and reestablish the throne of David. Some, like the followers of Bar Kokhba in the second century, even attempted to bring this vision to life. A man dying on a Roman cross did not fit the picture.
Paul acknowledges this deeply when he writes that the message of the cross is “a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” (1 Cor 1:23). Yet this is exactly what the early Christians proclaimed, not despite the cross, but through it.
What Was Jesus Really Claiming?
When Jesus stood before the Sanhedrin in the Gospel of Mark, he was asked directly, “Are you the Messiah?” His response was striking: “I am; and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:62).
He was not only affirming that he was the Messiah. He was identifying himself with two major Old Testament passages: Daniel 7 and Psalm 110.
Daniel 7 describes a vision in which “one like a son of man” comes with the clouds of heaven and is presented before God. This figure is given authority, glory, and kingship that will never pass away. Importantly, this figure comes from heaven, not earth.
Psalm 110 says, “The Lord says to my lord: Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.” This verse became one of the most frequently quoted in the New Testament, seen as pointing to a Messianic ruler who shares in God’s own authority.
By referencing both, Jesus was not merely claiming a title. He was placing himself alongside God, in a role that no mere human could claim without blasphemy. The high priest understood this and tore his robes. If Jesus’s claims were false, then he deserved to die. But if they were true, then something earth-shattering was unfolding.
A Sacrifice with Purpose
The Gospels are clear that Jesus’s death was not an accident. It was not simply the result of betrayal or political failure. It was part of God’s redemptive plan. Jesus willingly offered himself as a sacrifice.
This sacrifice took place during Passover, the feast that commemorated Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Every year, a lamb was slaughtered and its blood was a sign of protection and freedom. In the temple, this blood was poured out in sacrifice, and the people remembered God’s saving power.
Jesus positioned himself as the true Passover Lamb. He spoke of his body as the new temple, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). He became the true altar, the true victim, and the true priest. On the cross, blood and water flowed from his side, echoing the sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist, and symbolizing the cleansing and life that come from him.
When Jesus died, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Mark 15:38). This was no small detail. The veil separated the Holy of Holies, the place where God’s presence dwelled, from the rest of the temple. Its tearing symbolized a new access to God, made possible through Christ’s sacrifice.
What the Resurrection Reveals
Even with all of this, how could anyone be sure Jesus was telling the truth? Many have made grand spiritual claims. The crucifixion, for many, would have confirmed that he was just another false prophet. But the early Church pointed to the resurrection as the decisive answer.
They did not merely say that Jesus’s soul lived on, or that he was remembered spiritually. They claimed something far more radical: Jesus rose bodily from the dead.
He appeared to the disciples. He ate with them, spoke to them, and invited Thomas to touch his wounds. At the same time, his resurrected body was transformed. He could appear in locked rooms. He was not always immediately recognized. Yet the tomb was undeniably empty, and his body was no longer among the dead.
Paul explains the significance of this in 1 Corinthians 15. He says that if Christ is not raised, then our faith is in vain. The resurrection is not optional: it is foundational. It shows that Jesus has conquered death and now offers that same victory to those who follow him.
From Death to Life: What It Means for Us
In the end, the crucifixion and resurrection reveal something profound about God and about humanity.
The cross shows that God does not remain distant from suffering. He enters into it. He experiences rejection, pain, and death, not because he must, but because he loves. The resurrection shows that death is not the end of the story. Jesus transforms even the most hopeless situation into new life.
This truth touches our lives directly. We all experience moments that feel like Good Friday, times of loss, fear, and despair. But through Christ, we are promised Easter morning. Sin and death do not have the last word.
As St. John Chrysostom proclaims in his famous Paschal homily:
Christ is risen, and you, O death, are annihilated!
Christ is risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life is liberated!
Christ is risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ, having risen from the dead,
has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
To Him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen!
