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holy

Beauty on a Friday Afternoon

Roman crucifixion was gruesome. There was no rulebook, so full rein was given, as Martin Hengel has written, to “the caprice and sadism of the executioners.” Some Romans denounced its cruelty. “That plague” was Cicero’s description. Most were horrified, averted their eyes, and kept their tongues. We know Caesar crucified slaves, but he never refers to crosses or crucifixions in any of his writings, and Hengel tells us that “no ancient writer wanted to dwell too long on this cruel procedure.” The gospels provide the most detailed account we have of a Roman crucifixion.

The New Testament writers are fully aware of the shock value of preaching the crucified Jesus. “Cursed is the one who hangs on a tree,” Paul wrote, quoting Deuteronomy. Jesus went to the cross “despising the shame.” Paul knew that putting crucifixion at the center of the gospel scandalized Jews and sounded foolish to Greco-Romans.

Yet the apostles couldn’t stop talking about it. Paul boasted in the cross, and said that the blood of Jesus’ cross reconciled all things, removed enmity, forgave sins. John went further. The Word that created the world pitched a tent among men.

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  • Bobseeks

    By GOD's power,two symbols of fear and death (the cross and the tomb) have been made symbols of hope and life. Atheists/lieberals/false religions can't match that with their lies and myths.

  • http://youtu.be/zjgBhpanOfQ Despeville

    "Yet the apostles couldn’t stop talking about it. Paul boasted in the cross, and said that the blood of Jesus’ cross reconciled all things, removed enmity, forgave sins."

    Indeed and that very truth has been attacked massively within a hundred years of its revelation by Gnostics who are still around today and minimize or outright deny that Jesus blood accomplished anything or that it was not there at all. Pointing instead to "spiritual death" only of Jesus on the cross… We know who is behind that.

    "but if we awalk in the Light as bHe Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and cthe blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin."
    ~ 1 Jn 1:7 NASB

    "and from Jesus Christ, athe faithful witness, the bfirstborn of the dead, and the cruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who dloves us and released us from our sins 1by His blood— and He has made us to be a akingdom, apriests to His God and Father—cto Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
    ~ Re 1:5-6 NASB

    "Therefore Jesus also, athat He might sanctify the people bthrough His own blood, suffered coutside the gate."
    ~ Heb 13:12 NASB

    VERSUS:

    "… that blood flowed from me yet it DID NOT FLOW…"

    Supposed words of "Jesus" from Gnostic writings called "Acts of John" written 150 years after initial crucifixion account
    as quoted in "Gnostic Crucifixion" book, page 17, point 21 available for free here: http://bit.ly/HmpeRc

  • http://youtu.be/zjgBhpanOfQ Despeville

    "Who Killed Jesus?" ~ http://bit.ly/Hvbu24

    • http://conservativebyte.com Michael G.

      We all did.
      As far as the Roman soldier that stuck a spear in His side, we don't know. History's quiet on that. There probably is no way to klnow.

      • aceituna

        All this woulnd did was prove that Jesus was already dead. The blood had separated!

  • http://youtu.be/zjgBhpanOfQ Despeville

    "Good Friday: Christ our Great High Priest" ~ http://bit.ly/HsSEwH

  • http://youtu.be/zjgBhpanOfQ Despeville

    Resurrection Day Special for resident "athiests":

    "Easter for Atheists and Skeptics" ~ http://bit.ly/Hp6ksp

    • Chris

      What was so special about dying for our sins if he was going to be resurrected anyway. Another fable of magic.

      • http://conservativebyte.com Michael G.

        Well, you have a choice. You can either have Christ pay for them, or you can pay for them. (Only thing it will take you an eternity to do that).

        • http://youtu.be/zjgBhpanOfQ Despeville

          "You can either have Christ pay for them"

          Excuse me but the atonement of Christ is definite, infinite and accomplished and not hypothetical.
          Jesus died to SAVE and not to make men SAVABLE. Do you see the difference?

      • http://youtu.be/zjgBhpanOfQ Despeville

        Were you not ask to not to make a light work for yourself in the article? Yet, this is precisely what you default each and every time your are being challenged.

      • aceituna

        The Resurrection is our assurance that we too shall live. If Jesus had not come alive again our faith would be in vain.

  • msjallen

    Two unique deaths of Jesus Christ on Wednesday:
    Spiritual death when He took all our sins on Him —
    Physical death when His Body, Soul and Spirit were separated –
    His Body – went into the grave – Luke 23:50-53
    His Soul – went into Hades or Paradise – heart of the earth – under the control of God the Holy Spirit – Luke 23:43, Acts 2:27, Acts 2:31 & Eph 4:9
    His Spirit – went into heaven for the 3 days and nights while His body was in the grave. Luke 23:46, John 19:30,
    In the resurrection, the opposite happened – God the Father & God the Holy Spirit were the agents of the resurrection of Jesus Christ – He did not use His own Omnipotence
    The Omnipotence of God the Father returned Jesus Christ’s Spirit to the grave
    The Omnipotence of the Holy Spirit returned Jesus Christ’ Soul to the grave
    The body of Christ was then resurrected from the grave – He walked through the stone before it was rolled away. –