The cross is like an anamorphic piece of art. There are many ways it can be viewed, yet it seems that each perspective only yields a disconnected piece of the picture, leaving the overall image quite distorted, even incomprehensible.
It is only when one stands in just the right spot—let’s call it “ the sweet spot”—that all of the pieces begin to fit, allowing the complete image to come into focus, revealing its true form, meaning and intention.
Beginning with today's post we're going to look at the cross from four different perspectives in an attempt to find “the sweet spot” - a place where we can better understand, as much as humanly possible, the entire impact of the cross.
(Here is a link to the introduction of the series)
Today's focus will be on the temporal experience of the cross, specifically, what Jesus experienced and why such suffering was necessary.
Temporal Perspective
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. (Psalm 22:14-15 ESV)
The verses above provide a vivid and painful description of a crucifixion, written nearly a thousand years prior to the invention of the cross as a means of inflicting suffering and punishment.
To witness a person dying on the cross was to witness human suffering and shame beyond comprehension. First, the hill on the outskirts of Jerusalem was selected by the Romans as the crucifixion site because it provided maximum exposure to those coming into the city--a visual warning to any Jew contemplating rebellion against the Roman authority.
Then, the "criminals" were stripped naked. Public shame and ultimate indignity were important aspects of the experience. Finally, death by crucifixion was meant to be slow and painful, sometimes taking days for the person to experience the relief of death.
Here's what we're told by scientists who have studied the effects of a crucifixion on the human body: over time, the heart would become constricted, unable to pump blood throughout the body causing the organs to begin to fail. The lungs would stiffen making it difficult to breathe. Finally, when the person could no longer expand his diaphragm by pulling himself up with his arms or pushing himself up with his legs, he would slowly suffocate.
Why Was Such Suffering Necessary?
In a world where there is no shortage of horrors inflicted by one human upon another, death by crucifixion is at the top of the list of ways to mete out great suffering.
But why? Why did Jesus have to suffer? That's a really important question. Here are a few thoughts:
1. The suffering was necessary to fulfill predictive prophecy.
About 700 years before the cross, the prophet Isaiah told of a "suffering servant", a "Passover lamb" who would bear the transgressions of his people.
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. (Isa 53:5 ESV)
Several times in the gospels, we're told that the things that occurred during the lifetime of Jesus, including the cross, were "to fulfill all that is written" and we're told that "the Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35).
2. The suffering was according to God's plan
Shockingly, it seems that the cross was always part of the plan of redemption--God's plan to save the world through his Son.
In the second chapter of the book of Acts, Peter tells us that the cross was "according to the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God" (Acts 2:23), and in the fourth chapter Peter tells us that all that happened to Jesus was "predestined to take place" (Acts 4:27).
So, everything done to Jesus--from his sentencing by Pilate, to the mobs who yelled "Crucify him!", to the nails pounded into Jesus' hands--was predetermined by God.
3. The suffering was "fitting".
For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. (Heb 2:10 ESV)
This is a shocking statement.
God’s eternal decision to achieve our salvation through the sufferings of Christ was not meaningless. His suffering was "fitting", that is, somehow divinely appropriate, necessary--dare we say, good--in a way we will not understand. We must simply, by faith, believe that the suffering of Jesus was not only necessary but in perfect harmony with the One who "works all things according to the counsel of his will."
4. Suffering leads to glory
It's surprising how often Scripture ties "suffering" together with "glory" (1 Peter 1:6-7, 10; 2:12; 3:9, 14; 4:12-15; 5:1, 10).
Therefore [because of His obedience to the point of death on a cross] God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name..." (Phil 2:8-9).
The apostle Paul seems to say that it was because of the suffering on the cross that Jesus was ultimately glorified above all others. Furthermore, according to the apostle, we will share in Christ's glory only If we share in Christ's suffering.
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Rom 8:16-17 ESV)
Final Thought
From a temporal perspective, the cross looks like unbearable shame and suffering, but the violence of the cross also prefigures a transition of power critical to God's ultimate plan of redemption. The cross changed everything.
In the next post, we'll try to understand what the cross meant from a humanistic perspective, that is, the shocking effect of the cross on the people of the world.
Next Post: The Cross Part II: A Humanistic Perspective
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