THE CRUCIFIXION
It seems everyone is talking about The Passion of Christ movie. The comments are both positive and negative. Let’s keep in mind that many people have seen the movie resulting in a myriad of various comments. If we consider all the various beliefs in the world today, it is no wonder there will be differing opinions. I have a comment or rather a question. Is anyone focusing on what I believe to be the real issue? What is the real issue? Is it that Christ died on the cross for sinners? Is it the Roman’s fault? Is it the Jew’s fault? The main issue of the picture is obvious; it is a display of a very horrible and humiliating crucifixion of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Most people know that Jesus was crucified and the reason why. They may not accept or believe the Biblical explanation and that is their prerogative. Remember please, if you will, that Jesus voluntarily offered Himself as a sacrifice on the cross for sinners. In the Gospel of John 3:16, Jesus said that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life; “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Let’s consider an issue the movie doesn’t show and yet is extremely important; Old Testament Prophecy that accurately predicts the coming, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus. Psalm 22 is very descriptive of the crucifixion. These prophetic statements are true, proven by their fulfillment as we see in the Gospels; Matthew 27:35 says, “When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.” Even external sources such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered within the last century, validate the authenticity of the Bible. In lieu of discussing the movie which in itself would be argumentative, let us examine what makes this story credible.
Psalm 22 is one of the most quoted of all Psalms. It is a prophetic description of what was to happen to Jesus on the cross. This prophecy dates back approximately eight hundred years before the crucifixion; to the best of my knowledge. The point here is that these words were written long before Jesus appeared on the earth and were fulfilled in Jesus on the cross. In Psalm 1, David said, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” See Mathew 27:46 for the exact same words uttered by Jesus on the cross; “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This probably reflects the desertion that Jesus felt while dying on the cross for the sinners of the world. Psalm 22:11-18 describes the crucifixion; Verses 11-13 foretell of the troubles near to Him and that no one was there to help Him. Verse 14 describes the piercing of the spear in His side and His bones being out of joint because of the way He hung on the cross. Both water and blood poured out of Jesus signifying shed blood and a broken heart. Verse 15 describes more of the physical aspects of the crucifixion. Verse 16 describes the nailing of His hands (wrists actually) and feet”…they pierced my hands and my feet.” Verse 18 describes the division of His garments by the soldiers casting lots. In Mathew 26:31 Jesus tells the disciples they will fall away and scatter like sheep, see Zechariah 13:7’…strike the Shepard that the sheep may be scattered.’ Psalm 69:21 speaks of Matthew 27:34,’… they gave Him wine to drink mingled with gall.’ Psalm 22:7 speaks of Matthew 27:39…’hurling insults at Him.’
When Jesus yielded up His spirit (more on this later) the veil in the Temple was split from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). It is interesting to note that the veil was renewed every year and was so strong that two teams of horses tied to each side could not tear it apart. The veil barred all the people, except the High Priest, from the presence of God, but when it was split in two at the very moment Jesus yielded up His Spirit (Matthew 27:51), access to God was now available to all who come to the Father through Jesus. This was a very significant event, which one could say was the very beginning of true Christianity.
Although I have not fully investigated the following statement I know it comes from several reliable sources. There have been in excess of 500 prophecies already fulfilled in the Bible. This is not fortune telling, it is the infallible Word of God, the Bible proving itself over and over again. The Bible in its entirety is its own best testimony. No one has ever been able to find one word of contradiction. The fulfillment of the large number of undeniable prophetic statements that have come true causes one to wonder why so many deny the truth and accuracy of the Bible; both the Old and the New Testament. It has been said that the Old Testament is the New Testament contained and the New Testament is the Old Testament explained. In 2nd Timothy 3:16 it states that ‘all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;’ and 2nd Peter 1:21 states ‘for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but by men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.’ These verses, as well as many others, are telling us that God is the author and the writers are the instruments. As I stated in the second paragraph of this letter, the real issue, for me, is this paragraph. We can and we should take solace that the Bible is truly the inspired Word of God. Each of us would be well served if we read and studied the Bible every day. Believe me when I tell you that God will indeed bless you. When you do, you are communicating with God as He wishes. Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.”
Matthew 27:50…”And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice he gave up His spirit.” Please note that Jesus was not killed by anyone nor was He overcome by natural events; He released His Spirit. There is so much more on the crucifixion I could write, however there is one final point I would like to make about the last words Jesus spoke just before He gave up His Spirit. Those words are found in John 19:30 when He said,”…It is finished” and He bowed His head and gave up His Spirit. The meaning of these last words, very simply, is the payment for the sins of the world was made in full and final. There is nothing more that anyone can do, nor should anyone want to, but to believe what Jesus said so many, many times; “…..believe in me and you have eternal life…” (John 3:16). Believing what Jesus said is all there is my friends; we don’t need any help from any organizations who proclaim themselves to be “Christians” under the guise of some name or whatever. The Word of God, the Bible is all that we need for salvation. What I am saying here does not preclude the need for fellowship, actually the Bible does indeed tell us to fellowship. I’ll write a letter soon on the topic of fellowship. It’ll be interesting. I’ll give you a hint…it won’t be about ‘churching’. I’m talking about genuine, old time Biblical fellowship.
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