The greatest love story

For Christians throughout the world, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary (Friday) and His resurrection(Sunday) remains at the core of their faith. This is an observance that involves people fasting and praying. Many church services are held in the afternoon, usually around noon or midday to 3pm, to remember the hours when Jesus hung on the cross. Many churches also observe the day by re-enacting the procession of the cross as in the ritual of the Stations of the Cross, which depicts the final hours of Jesus’ life. Processions are held in many countries depicting Christ’s agonising and humiliating procession to the site of his crucifixion at Calvary or Golgotha. The Bible says that Christ was betrayed by one of His disciples(Judas Iscariot) after which he was tried by the Jewish religious court (the Sanhedrin). Christ had to suffer the worst humiliation and pain. This was the price He had to pay in order to shed His blood as atonement for the curse. The Crucifixion is confirmed by at least one undeniable secular source, the Roman historian Tacitus (55-120 A.D.). He wrote that the “founder of this sect (the Christians) was executed during the reign of (emperor) Tiberius by the Governor Pontius Pilate” (Tacitus, annals XV). It was in keeping with God’s promise made in Genesis 3:15 to redeem mankind from the curse brought by the fall of the first created man, Adam and woman, Eve when they disobeyed God after falling prey to deceit. Christ’s birth, death and resurrection were already foretold from the beginning which were confirmed by later prophets such as Isaiah (7:14)seven hundred years before His birth. According to the Bible, Christ was obedient to death even though at times, the humanness in Him begged to have the cup taken away from Him(Matt. 26:39,42). However, despite the human and natural inclination, Christ ultimately chose the path of obedience. It was this obedience that opened the door for salvation of mankind. mocked and scourged. He suffered hours of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-rending cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, and searing pain as tissue was torn from His lacerated back from His movement up and down against the rough timbers of the cross. Christ had to pay the ransom for the sins of mankind to reconcile man with God and because “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness”?( Hebrews 9:22). Jesus revealed that He was bringing a new covenant in His blood (Luke 22:20). After Jesus ascended to heaven, God revealed to the apostle Peter that Jesus’ followers did not need to follow every single one of the Old Testament laws (Acts 10-11). Thus, when Christ was crucified at the cross of Calvary on Friday and resurrected on the third day(Sunday) which He spoke of often, God fulfilled the divine purpose of redemption of His creation through Christ. While humans understood freedom from the socio-political angle; God’s promise of freedom was eternal life through Jesus. The crucifixion and resurrection of Christ fulfilled God’s promise of redemption from sin or separation from God. Christ’s death and resurrection also confirms that no man comes to the God the father except through Him. Christ also confirmed He was indeed the saviour because He fulfilled the promise through His death and resurrection.