April 7 - The Crucifixion of Jesus: When Love Triumphed Over Sin
The Cross as God's Perfect Solution
This is the day widely affirmed as the date Jesus Christ was crucified by Roman soldiers in Jerusalem in AD 30.
In today's lesson, we will explore the deeper significance of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and how it represents God's perfect solution to humanity's greatest problem. What motivated God to become human and bear our punishment? How does understanding the true nature of sin help us grasp the necessity and perfection of Christ's sacrifice on the cross?
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." - 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
This Date in History
The soldiers drove the nails through his hands and feet, affixing Jesus of Nazareth to the rough-hewn wooden cross as crowds gathered at Golgotha—"the place of the skull"—outside Jerusalem's walls. The charge posted above his head in three languages read simply: "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews," a declaration that both mocked and unwittingly proclaimed his true identity. As darkness fell across the land during midday, this itinerant Jewish teacher, whose ministry had drawn thousands and challenged religious authorities, uttered his final words: "It is finished," completing what Christians would come to see as the most pivotal sacrifice in human history.
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ likely occurred on Friday, Nisan 14 (according to the Jewish calendar) during Passover week of either 30 or 33 AD, with April 7, 30 AD being widely accepted by numerous scholars. The date stems from careful analysis of Gospel accounts which place the crucifixion on a Friday during Passover, alongside astronomical calculations determining when Nisan 14 would have fallen on a Friday during Pontius Pilate's governance of Judea. Those who favor the 30 AD date point to Luke's Gospel, which places John the Baptist's ministry beginning in the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar (approximately 27-28 AD), suggesting Jesus' three-year ministry would conclude around 30 AD.
The trial and execution came after Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem days earlier, when crowds had welcomed him with palm branches and shouts of "Hosanna." Religious leaders, threatened by his growing influence and claims of divine authority, sought his elimination. Following his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus endured a series of trials: first before the Jewish Sanhedrin led by high priest Caiaphas, then before Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect of Judea. Though Pilate found no legitimate basis for execution, political pressure and the crowd's demands led him to authorize crucifixion, the Roman Empire's most brutal form of capital punishment.
Jesus' followers scattered during his arrest and trial, with Peter famously denying him three times before the rooster crowed. The Gospel accounts detail Jesus' suffering: the crown of thorns, the scourging, his struggle to carry the cross, and the agonizing six hours of crucifixion. According to biblical records, extraordinary events accompanied his death: darkness covering the land from noon until three in the afternoon, an earthquake, and the temple veil tearing from top to bottom. Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple and member of the Sanhedrin, requested Jesus' body and placed it in his own new tomb before sundown, when the Sabbath would begin.
For his followers, the crucifixion initially represented the devastating end of their hopes that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Yet this Friday execution would become known as "Good Friday" among Christians, who believe it marks the moment when Jesus took upon himself the sins of humanity. The date's significance lies not only in the historical event but in what Christians throughout history have understood as its theological meaning: a divine sacrifice offering atonement and reconciliation between God and humanity. This understanding transformed a Roman execution into what would become the central symbol of the world's largest religion, with the cross representing not defeat but redemption.
Historical Context
The crucifixion occurred during a period of intense religious and political tension in Roman-occupied Judea. Pontius Pilate, appointed as prefect by Emperor Tiberius in 26 AD, governed the region with a reputation for brutality and insensitivity toward Jewish customs. His relationship with the Jewish population was strained by previous incidents, including his attempt to bring Roman military standards bearing images of the emperor into Jerusalem and his appropriation of Temple funds to build an aqueduct. These actions had already sparked riots and protests, creating an atmosphere where Pilate might prioritize maintaining order over justice.
Jerusalem during Passover week would have been extraordinarily crowded, with historians estimating the city's population swelled from roughly 50,000 to several hundred thousand as Jewish pilgrims arrived from across the Roman Empire to celebrate this most important festival commemorating the Israelites' deliverance from Egyptian slavery. The Roman authorities always increased their military presence during such festivals, wary of religious fervor transforming into political rebellion in a region already known for messianic movements and resistance to Roman rule. This context helps explain why the authorities moved quickly to execute Jesus, whose teachings and growing following, combined with the charged atmosphere of Passover with its themes of liberation, could be perceived as potentially igniting widespread unrest.
Did You Know?
The type of cross likely used for Jesus' crucifixion was probably a "tau" cross (shaped like the Greek letter tau or our letter T) rather than the traditional Latin cross depicted in most Christian art. Roman executioners typically reused the vertical beam (stipes) while victims carried only the crossbeam (patibulum) to their execution site.
Crucifixion victims typically died from asphyxiation, not blood loss. The position forced them to push up with their legs to breathe, causing exhaustion and eventually suffocation when they could no longer lift themselves. The spear thrust into Jesus' side, described in John's Gospel, was likely a Roman method to verify death before removing bodies.
Archaeological evidence of crucifixion is extremely rare, with only one set of remains ever discovered. In 1968, archaeologists found the heel bone of a crucified man named Jehohanan from the first century with a nail still embedded in it, providing tangible evidence of this execution method during Jesus' time.
The "vinegar" offered to Jesus on the cross was likely posca, a common sour wine drink consumed by Roman soldiers. It was not meant primarily as further torment but was the standard drink available to the execution squad.
Pilate's inclusion of "King of the Jews" on Jesus' titulus (the sign displaying the criminal charge) was unusual in its trilingual presentation (Hebrew, Greek, and Latin) and became a point of contention with Jewish leaders who wanted it clarified that this was merely Jesus' claim, not an accepted fact.
The tearing of the temple veil at the moment of Jesus' death symbolized the end of the old covenant and the beginning of direct access to God for believers. This event has profound theological significance, marking a new era in the relationship between God and humanity.
Today’s Reflection
The crucifixion of Jesus stands as history's most significant moment—not just for what happened, but for why it happened. On that Friday in Jerusalem, Roman soldiers executed a Jewish teacher. But beneath the surface of Roman power and religious betrayal lies a far deeper reality. The cross was not a tragic accident or a symbolic gesture. It was God's perfect solution to humanity's greatest problem.
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
This divine exchange—Christ taking our sin and giving us His righteousness—exposes both the severity of our condition and the brilliance of God's remedy.
Our story doesn't begin at Golgotha. It begins long, long before in the Garden of Eden. There, the first humans rejected God's authority, choosing independence over intimacy. God had granted them freedom of will because love requires choice. Without the ability to choose against God, our love for Him would be programmed, not authentic.
But sin is more than rule-breaking. It is relationship-breaking. It is self-sovereignty. It is placing our wisdom above God's and redefining good and evil on our own terms. When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, they weren't merely violating a command—they were unknowingly staging a coup. They were rejecting God's authority and attempting to define good and evil on their own terms. That rebellion fractured perfect communion with the Creator and introduced death into creation, both physical and spiritual.
The effects of this fracture echo through every generation. Human nature itself became corrupted. Sin is not just what we do; it is who we have become—people bent toward self-rule and resistant to God's reign. We are not simply guilty of missteps. We are alienated from the source of life. And because God is holy, He cannot ignore sin. The gap between us and Him is not one we can close through moral effort or religious ritual.
Scripture makes it plain: "The wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23 (NIV)
No human effort can reverse this sentence.
Here lies the divine dilemma. God's justice demands that sin be punished. His love desires that sinners be redeemed. Any solution that compromises either attribute would be unworthy of Him. If God simply forgave without addressing sin's consequences, His justice would be undermined. If He executed perfect justice without mercy, all humanity would be condemned. The mystery of divine wisdom is that at the cross, both attributes find perfect harmony.
"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)
The justice of God is not denied—it is satisfied. The love of God is not restrained—it is poured out.
The entire Old Testament sacrificial system was a shadow pointing toward this moment. Every lamb offered, every priestly ritual, every Day of Atonement anticipated a better sacrifice. But animal blood could never remove sin. It could only cover it temporarily. What was needed was a perfect substitute. One who was sinless. One who could bear the weight of all human rebellion. And no mere human could do this. Every person born of Adam shares the same fallen nature. Even the best among us cannot save the rest of us. Only someone both fully human and fully divine could stand in our place and satisfy divine justice.
Enter Jesus Christ, fully God and fully human.
The eternal Son of God took on flesh, not to avoid suffering but to embrace it. He lived the sinless life we could not live and died the sinner's death we deserved to die. His humanity qualified Him to represent us. His divinity gave infinite value to His sacrifice. At the cross, our guilt was transferred to Him, and His righteousness was transferred to us. This was not divine child abuse, as some critics suggest. It was divine self-sacrifice. God did not punish a third party. He absorbed the punishment Himself.
This is the heart of the gospel.
The cross does not merely erase our record. It restores our relationship. Through Christ's atoning work, we are not only forgiven, but are reconciled. We are adopted. We are made sons and daughters.
"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ." Ephesians 2:13 (NIV)
What was lost in Eden is reclaimed at Calvary. And through the new covenant, God writes His law not on tablets of stone but on hearts of flesh. Our spiritual journey is no longer a desperate attempt to earn approval. It becomes a joyful response to already being fully accepted.
But the cross confronts us with a question that demands an answer: If this truly was God's perfect solution to our deepest need, how will you respond?
Many admire Jesus as a moral teacher. Others intellectually accept the historical facts of the crucifixion but stumble over the cross's implication that we need saving, not just inspiring. Many find it difficult to accept that we cannot define our own morality. That we must surrender. The cross is not an abstract idea. It is a personal invitation. It calls us out of self-reliance and into grace.
When you truly grasp what happened on that hill outside Jerusalem, you cannot remain neutral. You either lay down your life in gratitude, or you walk away unchanged. But you cannot stay indifferent.
Are you living in light of the cross?
Have you embraced not just the event, but its claim on your life?
The perfect solution becomes your solution only when you accept both the diagnosis—your separation from God—and the remedy—Christ's sacrifice on your behalf. Today is your opportunity to move beyond belief as information and step into belief as transformation.
Let the cross define your identity. Let it reframe your purpose. Let it be the lens through which you love, serve, and live.
But don't stop at admiration. Don't settle for understanding without surrender. The gift has been offered, but it must be received. To accept Christ's sacrifice is to lay down your pride, confess your need, and trust in His finished work.
He took your place. Will you take His hand?
If you haven't already done so, today is the day to receive the mercy purchased at so great a cost. Then, let the cross move from history to your story, from a truth you believe to a Savior you follow.
Practical Application
Spend time today meditating on the full significance of the cross by reading through one of the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, or John 19). As you read, pause after each major event and consider both the historical reality and its spiritual meaning. Then create a personal "before and after" list: on one side, note aspects of your life before accepting Christ's sacrifice; on the other, write how each of these areas has been or could be transformed through embracing your new identity in Christ. Focus particularly on areas where you might still be living according to old patterns rather than from your position as a reconciled child of God.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we stand in awe before the cross, humbled by the perfect solution You provided for our deepest need. Thank You for not leaving us in our sin and separation, but for taking the initiative to rescue us through Your Son. We confess that we often live as though the cross were merely a historical event rather than the defining reality of our lives.
Lord Jesus, what You accomplished that day in Jerusalem transforms everything. Help us to fully embrace not just the forgiveness You purchased, but the new identity You secured for us. May we stop living as though we need to earn Your approval and instead respond with gratitude to the love You've already demonstrated. Draw us away from self-sovereignty and into complete surrender, that we might experience the freedom that comes from living under Your lordship. We pray this in Your precious and powerful name, Amen.
Final Thoughts
The cross stands as God's definitive statement that He will not let His creation remain broken. Where we see impossibilities, God sees opportunities to display His wisdom and power. The divine dilemma of justice and mercy that stumps human understanding finds perfect resolution in divine love. This is the heart of Christianity: not moral improvement, but resurrection life; not religious performance, but restored relationship; not trying harder, but trusting completely in what has already been accomplished for us.
Author’s Notes
I think someone else probably needs to hear this, so consider today’s note a bonus lesson of sorts.
We often think of Jesus’ disciples as just the Twelve. Those are the ones we always hear about and are taught about. But recently I was reminded that He had many more. These were faithful followers who traveled with Him, listened to His teaching, and even did ministry in His name. Still, when He said something they didn’t expect—or didn’t want to hear—many of them walked away.
They were in the presence of the Son of God, and yet His words were too much for them to receive.
That moment in John 6 reminds me that truth has always come with a cost. Even Jesus, perfect in love and perfectly obedient to the Father, saw people turn away when He spoke what they weren’t ready to hear.
As someone who writes a daily lesson and wrestles with what God puts on my heart to say, I’ve felt that cost too, albeit in a much smaller way. I’ve written things that I truly believed were from the Lord, only to see people unsubscribe or quietly walk away. And I’ve heard from other faithful writers here on Substack who’ve experienced the same thing. It would be easy to take it personally. But when I remember that even Jesus lost followers for speaking truth, I’m reminded: faithfulness, not popularity, is the goal.
This isn’t an excuse to be harsh or dismissive. It’s an invitation for all of us to stay faithful—to speak what God gives us, to trust Him with the outcome, and to know we’re in good company when the message is hard and the crowd thins out.
Keep doing what God tells you to do.
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I want to reiterate a point I think most of you understand already.
We can't be sure of the exact date or even the exact year Jesus was crucified. It's a complicated process to even get close.
I chose this date to write about it but there are other dates that are equally possible and have valid arguments.
I just read this great article this morning: https://open.substack.com/pub/wrathandremnant/p/the-book-of-daniel-predicts-the-exact
Most of the time I go to great lengths to verify the dates and information. For obvious reasons. But if I did that for this story I'd never get to write about it.
And I wanted to write about it. I think this is one of our best lessons.
It is very clear to us, your readers (any Christian, etc .) on this social media app for writers's, that you did your homework. I am reading it again and just wanted to applaud your efforts. Thank you for keeping it real (and truthful, the way it should be, for the sake of Christ, Jesus, "Yeshua" in His own tongue, (..He Saves..). GBY. I will be partaking in a gulp of red wine which denotes His 🩸 along with that meaningful "matzah" cracker, which as we all know delineates His Body shed for us, for our sins. Commemorated this year on the Messianic calendar, at sundown April 12th.