The crucifixion of Jesus is not only a historical event but the heart of the Gospel — the moment when love bore the full weight of human sin. Many have asked what truly happened that day, both physically and spiritually. To answer this, we must look not only at the suffering of Christ but also at the love that held Him there.
On the morning of that Friday, Jesus was condemned by Pontius Pilate after being scourged and mocked by Roman soldiers. He was forced to carry His cross through the streets of Jerusalem to a hill called Golgotha — “the Place of the Skull.” There, nails were driven through His hands and feet, fastening Him to the wooden cross. Above His head, they placed a sign reading, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” Around noon, the sky darkened, and for three hours the world seemed to hold its breath.
From the cross, Jesus spoke seven times — words of forgiveness, compassion, anguish, and surrender. He forgave those who crucified Him: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” He promised paradise to the repentant thief beside Him. He entrusted His mother Mary to the beloved disciple John. Then, with a loud cry, He declared, “It is finished,” and gave up His spirit. At that moment, the veil of the Temple was torn in two — a powerful sign that the barrier between God and humanity was broken.
But beyond the agony, the crucifixion was an act of divine love. The Church teaches that Jesus willingly took upon Himself the punishment of our sins. His death was not defeat but the victory of mercy over sin and death. The Cross became the new Tree of Life, and through it, God’s forgiveness was poured out upon the world. What appeared to be the darkest hour in history became the dawn of salvation.
When we look at the Cross today, we are invited not only to remember what happened but to recognize who hung there — the Son of God who loved us to the end. Every wound, every drop of blood, was a word of love spoken to each of us personally. To believe in the Cross is to let that love heal our hearts and reshape our lives in the light of His mercy.
May we never grow accustomed to the Cross, but always gaze upon it with wonder and gratitude. For there, upon those beams of suffering, God revealed the greatest truth: that love is stronger than death.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
