NOTES TO CRUCIFIXION - Page 3
Up until the cross and the first three hours, His concern was for other people. For the last three hours His concern was for what He was
experiencing. And the first thing He said was ‘I am thirsty”. Hell is a very thirsty place. His second concern is “I’m alone”. In hell God will
have left you. He went through hell. It was a very dark place. Dark because God is not there. He went through hell on our behalf so we
would never have to experience it. Crucifixion never killed anyone in six hours. It takes two days minimum and seven days maximum.
Jesus said He laid His life down Himself. When God said “That’s enough”. He cried out “It’s finished” -- its over. And then He prayed a
prayer that He had been taught as a little boy at Mary’s knee: (Psalm 30:6) “Into Your hands I commit My spirit” -- and added one word:
“Father, into Your hands...”. How could He go through this? He went through it for the joy set before Him. He could see beyond the
present suffering.
Choices
Philippians 2 says Jesus won this position by His choices. You can tell a man’s character by His choices. Jesus made three choices
which showed He could be trusted with the entire power in the universe.
First choice: to become a human being. What that must have meant to the Divine Son. He was the only person who chose to
be born. Therefore you didn’t chose your parents, your social standing you were born in to. Jesus chose His parents, and chose the
social level He would be brought up in. He chose not a palace but a carpenter’s shop. He chose to serve people. He took the form
of a slave. Washing the feet was kept for the lowest servant. The second lowest servant was to take the shoes off, lose the sandals.
John the Baptist said I am not worthy to lose the sandal (I don’t feel worthy to be the second bottom servant). But the One he talked
about chose to be the bottom slave. Peter was horrified – “It’s not Your place.”
He chose to die at the age of 33. Quite voluntary. Died the most shameful, horrid death, stark naked and laughed at. And He
chose all that. And God said, “That’s My man.” Now God has a human being He can trust.