WHY DIE?--Week 15

In Luke 23, the account of the crucifixion of Christ is narrated. Luke describes the soldiers, Pilate, Herod and Jesus in their actions and decisions. We know that historically all their actions did occur, that history records the crucifixion of Jesus.

Now, 20 centuries later, in a culture which is not religious--as ours--how can we see this?

Most people around the world can imagine a man bringing an animal to a place to be sacrificed as a religious rite. We identify that as religion, as sacrifice, as an oblation. We might not ever know what it accomplished, but we accept it as religion.
Jesus had said in John 15.13--Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friend. And we know that in war, men often have taken the spear for their fellow soldier, dying in his place. 

But to see a man die so that all men and women can go to heaven, is that understandible?

Pilate said he found no fault with Jesus, acknowledging this trial is about guilt and innocence. So Pilate has him punished and released, implying innocence in Roman law. Later Jesus is put on a cross, a crucifixion--an instrument of death for traitors and criminals. Soldiers take him, like a war prisoner rather than an animal to be burned. He is put with two criminals, having been sentenced.

But He doesn't talk about some crime He might have committed--the other criminals do. He does mention Paradise to one of the criminals. So Jesus is called King of the Jews, as if He threatens the crown of Rome. He is killed with criminals, sacrificed like a war criminal by the Romans.
Does He yell at the Romans, like a convicted prisoner? No, He forgives those who had Him killed--Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing, Luke 23.34.

Hamlet, Othello and MacBeth died for their country, Sidney Carton dies for old Dr. Manette in A Tale of Two Cities and Achilleus dies in the Iliad. So we can see that the ancient cultures around Jerusalem could conceive of a man dying for another man or a country. In the case of Hamlet, Othello, MacBeth and Achilleus, their death cleansed the country. But all of them were fictitious characters who couldn't forgive their enemies. 

What would it take to change the world from darkness to light?

To forgive takes power over the soul. If Jesus does not have power over our soul, He can be a martyr--but not a savior.

Hamlet, MacBeth, Achilleus, they are all fictitious characters who never lived. Religious men like Mohammed, Confucious, Luther have all died. One could go find their graves and remains. But if you tried to go to the tomb in which Jesus was buried, you would not find Him there. He is not dead, having been resurrected from the dead.

If you want to find the body of Christ, you must go to a Christian church, as it is His body. You will find Him there.
And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all, Ephesians, 1.22, 23.