Christ was not murdered on the cross.
Though his body suffered from shock, cardiac rupture and even asphyxiation - these afflictions were not what caused the death of his physical body.
His life was not taken from him as some would claim, and he did not die from the trauma endured on the cross; though he suffered immensely.
He died by the same means with which he was raised back to life.
No man killed him; though the Roman soldier nailed his hands, though Pilate ordered his crucifixion and though the Jewish mob demanded his death.
Despite the crowds cries in Matthew 25:27, the only blood that now lays claim to any man is the cleansing blood of our Lord for all who believe in his ultimate sacrifice for them.
No man, no race nor creed can truly take credit for the act of killing our Lord.
The strength displayed in the supernatural act of "giving up His Spirit" so shocked the Roman Centurion that the power in Christ's "loud cry" at the moment of death was so incredible that it not only caused an earthquake, but made a believer out of the man who moments before was responsible for nailing Him to the cross. (Matthew 27:54)
It was the same power that knocked over the entire crowd when they entered the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Him and he uttered "I am" to their question of who is the Nazarene. (John 18:5-7)
You see, we can argue and debate over where the ultimate blame lies - but in doing so we miss the forest for the trees.
No power reigned over Him, except that which He allowed for His purposes.
As he said to Peter in the Garden, "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?"
Matthew 26:52-54
And so our Messiah, "...being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
Phillipians 2:8 KJV
My brothers, Christ was not murdered on the cross.
You need to understand that He died simply because He gave up His own spirit, on His own terms, of His own free will.
He said so.
"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."
Jesus the Messiah, John 10:17-18 KJV
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jozef Lalka is a former Infantryman with the Canadian Armed Forces and founder of War Doll.
Since releasing from the military, Jozef has devoted his life to the scriptural motivation of the warrior culture, and the mentorship of the next generation. Jozef works as a graphic designer, photographer and videographer while pursing a passion for current global conflicts and how they relate to historical events.