Alice Camille agrees, noting that when Jesus tells the others, "It is finished" (John 19:30), he is reinforcing the notion that the sacrifice has been made. Camille points out that this death is "no helpless surrender, but a deliberate action, freely chosen" (Camille). Because the words were spoken from the cross, they have the "power to create reality" (Camille). Up until this point in history, the word was the word and with this symbolic death, it becomes something tangible that people can associate with Jesus' mission. In addition, we know that the crucifixion needed to occur because it fulfills prophecy. The Bible says, "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth" (Isaiah 53:7) and "it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand" (Isaiah 53:10). According the Bible, Jesus had to die to bring God and man together. It is also worth considering that Jesus was crucified to reveal the very terrible debt he paid. He suffered not just a physical death; by presenting us with such a terrible image of his death, we can also see the spiritual death that occurred. We see the agony, the blood, the mockery, and the pain that Jesus experienced not simply for being Jesus but for taking on our sin. It was not quick and painless - just the opposite, in fact. Imagining the suffering forces us to realize the price that has been paid. The reason becomes more compelling when must realize the incredible agony...
This is the primary reason that the crucifixion had to occur; there needed to be a sacrifice and it needed to be pure. However, other reasons were at play. Politically, Jesus had to die because he was a troublemaker and the Jews hated him and his message. The Jews could not realize that they were fulfilling prophecy in their anger. Crucifixion was the accepted form of punishment for criminals and because the majority of the people wanted to see this happen. From a spiritual standpoint, Jesus had to die to complete his mission. He was a victim of circumstance in that he was on the earth living in a country that sported crucifixion as a penalty for crime. He certainly did not deserve it but the greater good was being served through death. Finally, crucifixion forces us to look at the various aspects of Jesus' death. It was not just a simple death; it was a long, drawn out, painful, bloody, draining, and humiliating death. When we look at it this way, we have a greater appreciation for what Jesus did for us.
He describes how he dines with the members of Antipas' court, "thus maintaining the table-fellowship connection of Mark and Daniel," (Freyne 98). Therefore, the account of government practices which can be validated by other reliable sources show the New Testament as presenting clear and reliable sources for the historical validity of the figure of Jesus. Thus, modern researchers have found great truths and reliable correlations between the figure of
Those responsible for murdering atrocities such as Crusades, the witch trials and the Inquisition do not seem, from today's perspective, to have any love in their hearts. One must perhaps also recognize that these perpetrators of murder and terror felt that they were promoting a type of love. Those who burned witches and heretics for example tended to believe that they were saving the souls tortured in this way from
" Relgious leaders worried about loss of power and income ("Biography of Mohammed," 2005). This is an interesting parallel to Jesus' life, because Jesus also worried the religious leaders of his time for similar reasons (Wikipedia, 2000). Mohammed and Abu Talib fled Mecca, and his uncle hid him in a fortified castle away from the city. Within ten to fifteen years (accounts vary), Mohammed moved to the city of Medina, where
Julius believed the darkness was "induced by God" (21). Josephus is another historian whose work became popular because it "provided rich information on a few figures in the New Testament" (Voorst 83). John the Baptizer is mentioned with "extensive treatment" (83) and Jesus is mentioned in relations to James' death. Here he names Jesus as the brother of James that is "called Christ" (83). Josephus' most popular mention of
The significance of Jesus' crucifixion is vitally important in today's society because while life may seem hopeless in a certain sense of the word, it is not and when we stop long enough to remember this, we should be compelled to honor Jesus' sacrifice. Jesus' resurrection is equally important in today's world because it offers a sign of hope to all who believe. Many people think that we are living
" And to exercise the opposite acts and forms of behavior befitting the followers of Jesus, in whom dwells His Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23): But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Against such, there is no law." Islam believes that Jesus was a messenger of God, but that there were other messengers and prophets before him, like Adam, Moses and Muhammad (McVey). It
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