Jesus: Crucified - John 19

2000 years ago, Crucifixion wasn't something only heard about in history books, it was a constant backdrop of every day life. In the Roman Empire, people were crucified regularly, and as a result everyone was familiar with the sights and sounds of this brutal, inhumane practice. This makes the demand for Jesus to be crucified all the more bewildering. Over the last few days of Jesus' life, the cries were ever-growing for Him to be put to death in the most devastating way. What had humanity come to? How could things have descended to this place. Was this the world and the people to whom God had sent Jesus? Was there any hope for redemption and regeneration? As Jesus suffered, John tells us that His mother Mary watched it all from the hillside. Can you imagine the emotions she experienced? Assuredly, God the Father watched from Heaven as well. Both were near the cross, not only in proximity but participation. While Mary felt helpless, surely God could do something about this. Jesus was one with the Father. He was God in Flesh. They were always in harmony and in agreement with one another. As heartbreaking as it would've been to watch Jesus suffer, this was part of the plan. Jesus had been born and sent into the world for this moment. From the cross, He cried out in intercession for the very people that placed Him there. On the cross, He did a work to save not only those sinners, but all sinners. This was the plan all along. God demonstrated His love for us by sending Jesus to die for us. Through His broken body and offered blood, we find salvation. In Him, we are reconciled to God and brought back into relationship with God. When He cried, "It is Finished!", our redemption story was just beginning.