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When God Was Crucified
Brian Mashburn
May 17, 2015
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When God Was Crucified
As we walk to the cross with Jesus, we arrive at the most shocking point in the life of God when He was a man. What exactly are we seeing here? What does it mean? Most importantly, how am I to respond?
Paul said that the passion of his life was to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death. (Phil 3:10) Is this why the gospels slow down and show us so much of his suffering and death? Maybe God wants us to follow Paul in this and learn from Jesus how to love by suffering with him and dying like him.
Today, let's look at some of the characters in the story who witnessed this glorious tragedy: the death of God. Let's see how they responded to Jesus, witness them in their successes and failures, and then consider what our response will be - to the cross.
One thing I know, with fear and trembling: it is wrong for me to look at the cross and say that since Jesus endured suffering, therefore I can enjoy ease. Or, since Jesus cared so much for the world, I need not care. Or, since Jesus paid the price for my sins, I am free to live in sin. Or, since he lived in poverty, I can live in luxury. Jesus taught the opposite, declaring that anyone who would come after him must deny himself and take up his own cross (Mt 16:24). So did Paul, who said that if we suffer with him, we will be glorified with him (Rm 8:17). Peter agreed, saying that Christ suffered for you, leaving an example that you should follow in his steps (1 Pt 2:21).
When we see Jesus die, we see two things: the price paid for you to have eternal life, and the example given for how to live the most abundant life.
How will you respond to the death of God?