Have you ever wondered why Jesus had died on the cross? He could have lived for 969 years, like Methuselah was said to have lived! He could have been taken up in a fiery chariot like Elijah. He could have died peacefully in His sleep, or in some quick, painless way. Or, he could have risen as He did at the resurrection and just skipped the torture and suffering of the cross altogether! But a cross? Why did God allow that? Why did Jesus choose to endure it?

And how could Jesus, the most innocent man who ever lived, be accused, tried and found guilty of a crime so hideous that it deserved death on a cross, the very worst punishment reserved for the very worst criminals? To make matters worse, the political establishment of His day, the Romans, convicted Him, but they had no real interest in Him. It was the religious leaders of His own faith who accused Him! How could it be that, on His last night, He was deserted and betrayed by His best friends, and left all alone to face His accusers? What were the real reasons for Jesus’ death?

And, more importantly, can we see those same reasons influencing, even controlling, our world, our culture, even our own lives?!

We read the story of the crucifixion every year during Lent on Palm Sunday (it’s the LONG reading!) We are familiar with the characters in the story:

Annas, Caiaphas, Pontius Pilate, Peter, Judas, and John. But still, we may not understand the motives, fears, and actions that led to events. Much information has been discovered by archaeologists, historians, linguists and many others, so we can better understand their motives and circumstances, and this adds so much to the drama and the heartbreak, the sacrifice and the cost, and the amazing grace of our salvation.

So, let’s open the pages of God’s Word, and, together, see if we can understand why the Cross became the dying place for our Lord. Hopefully, we might more fully grasp the grief and the grace that comes to us from that profane, yet sacred place!