Apr 02 | The Fourth Station: Crucifixion

2013-03-20_19-33-35_718God did not try to escape any aspect of human experience. In the crucifixion of Jesus, God was accepting all of the pain of humanity at its worst.

Crucifixion was a gruesome business. Although many people assume that death came from the nails in the wrists and feet, what really occurs is death by suffocation when the condemned is no longer able to hold his head up. It is a slow, agonizing form of execution, reserved for troublemakers, rabble-rousers, and insurrectionists. It’s easy to forget that when we wear our little gold crosses around our necks, we are essentially wearing electric chairs, or syringes filled with poison. The focus on the salvific aspects of Jesus’ death can make us lose sight of its truly shocking and scandalous nature. The Apostle Paul will not allow us to do so! He speaks of the “scandal” of the cross constantly in his letters, and marvels at God’s ability to transform such scandal into beauty and life.

 

 

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