Cynics who have read bits of the bible sometimes sneer about God’s love. They demand to know why God would inflict a cruel crucifixion on His own Son.
It was not God who crucified Jesus, but man. Admittedly, the Father allowed it to happen and Jesus submitted to it. So why did they do that?
They wanted us to see for ourselves the depraved state we all reach when we make unloving choices (sin). His crucifixion by mankind sends us the strongest message of our need for a Savior, without forcing us to change.
God is not a dictator or a puppet master who pulls everyone’s strings. He gave us considerable free will so that we could choose to be love-beings like Him.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit willingly put themselves through the agony of the Cross to pierce our cold consciences with the passionate warmth of their love for us. Yet at a different level it was utterly repugnant to them. Jesus’ death involved such complete identification with mankind that the bible says He became sin for us:
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor 5:21)
Despite His revulsion at the thought of becoming sin, for our sake Jesus submitted voluntarily to His Father’s wisdom in this matter:
“He … prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matt 26:39)
“For this reason the Father loves me, because I [Jesus] lay down my life, that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18)
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