Crucifixion of Christ: meaning and symbolism

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

The basis of Orthodoxy is the doctrine that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ served as an expiatory sacrifice brought by Him to free mankind from the power of original sin. Throughout the entire historical period that has passed since the light of true faith led Russia out of the darkness of paganism, it is the recognition of the sacrifice of the Savior that has been a criterion for the purity of faith, and at the same time a stumbling block for all who tried to spread heretical teachings.

Human nature corrupted by sin

From the Holy Scriptures it is clear that Adam and Eve, who became the progenitors of all subsequent generations of people, committed the fall, violating the Commandment of God, trying to evade the fulfillment of His holy will. Having thus distorted their original nature, which was implanted in them by the Creator, and having lost the eternal life bestowed upon them, they became mortal, corruptible, and passionate (those suffering). Previously, created in the image and likeness of God, Adam and Eve knew neither sickness, nor old age, nor death itself.

The Holy Church, presenting the crucifixion of Christ on the Cross as a redemptivesacrifice, explains that, having become human, that is, not only becoming like people in appearance, but also absorbing all their physical and spiritual properties (except for sin), he cleansed His flesh from the distortions introduced by original sin by the tortures of the Cross, and restored it to god-like form.

Children of God who stepped into immortality

In addition, Jesus founded the Church on earth, in the bosom of which people got the opportunity to become His children and, leaving the corruptible world, to gain eternal life. Just as ordinary children inherit their main features from their parents, so Christians who are spiritually born in holy baptism from Jesus Christ and become his children acquire immortality inherent in Him.

The uniqueness of Christian dogma

It is characteristic that practically in all other religions the dogma about the expiatory sacrifice of the Savior is absent or extremely distorted. For example, in Judaism, it is believed that the original sin committed by Adam and Eve does not apply to their descendants, and therefore the crucifixion of Christ is not an act of saving people from eternal death. The same can be said about Islam, where the attainment of heavenly bliss is guaranteed to everyone who exactly fulfills the requirements of the Koran. Neither does Buddhism, which is also one of the world's leading religions, contain the idea of a redemptive sacrifice.

As for paganism, which actively opposed the nascent Christianity, even at the highest rise of its ancient philosophy, it did not rise to the understanding that it was the crucifixion of Christ that revealed to peopleway to eternal life. In one of his epistles, the apostle Paul wrote that the very preaching of a crucified God seemed like madness to the Greeks.

Thus, it was only Christianity that clearly conveyed to people the news that they were redeemed by the Blood of the Savior. And, having become His spiritual children, they received the opportunity to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It is not for nothing that the Easter troparion sings that the Lord gave life to all living on earth “Trample death by death”, and the icon “The Crucifixion of Christ” in Orthodox churches is given the most honorable place.

Shameful and painful execution

The description of the scene of the crucifixion of Christ is contained in all four evangelists, thanks to which it is presented to us in all horrific details. It is known that this execution, often used in ancient Rome and in the territories controlled by it, was not only painful, but also the most shameful. As a rule, the most notorious criminals were subjected to it: murderers, robbers, and also runaway slaves. In addition, according to Jewish law, a crucified person was considered cursed. Thus, the Jews wanted not only to torture Jesus, who they hated, but also to disgrace Him before their compatriots.

The execution that took place on Mount Calvary was preceded by prolonged beatings and humiliation that the Savior had to endure from his tormentors. In 2000, the American film company Icon Productions made a film about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ called The Passion of the Christ. In it, director Mel Gibson, in all frankness, showed these trulyheartbreaking scenes.

Associated with villains

The description of the execution says that before the crucifixion of Christ, the soldiers brought him sour wine, to which bitter substances were added, to alleviate the suffering. Apparently, even these hardened people were not alien to compassion for the pain of others. However, Jesus rejected their offer, wanting to fully endure the torment He voluntarily took upon Himself for human sins.

To humiliate Jesus in the eyes of the people, the executioners crucified Him between two thieves who were sentenced to death for their atrocities. However, by doing so, they, without realizing it, clearly demonstrated the fulfillment of the words of the biblical prophet Isaiah, who predicted seven centuries earlier that the coming Messiah would be “counted among the evildoers.”

The execution at Calvary

When Jesus was crucified, and it happened around noon, which, according to the calculation of time adopted in that era, corresponded to six hours of the day, He tirelessly prayed before the Heavenly Father for the forgiveness of His executioners, attributing what they were doing to the account of ignorance. At the top of the Cross, above the head of Jesus, a tablet was fixed, with an inscription made by the hand of Pontius Pilate. In it, in three languages - Aramaic, Greek and Latin (which the Romans spoke) - it was said that the executed was Jesus of Nazareth, who called Himself the King of the Jews.

The warriors who were at the foot of the Cross, according to custom, received the clothes of the executed and divided them among themselves, casting lots. This also fulfilled the prophecy once given by the kingDavid and what has come down to us in the text of his 21st Psalm. Evangelists also testify that when the crucifixion of Christ took place, the Jewish elders, and with them the common people, mocked Him in every possible way, shouting insults.

So did the pagan Roman soldiers. Only the robber, hanging to the right hand of the Savior, interceded for Him, from the height of the cross, denouncing the executioners that they added to the torment of an innocent person. At the same time, he himself repented of his crimes, for which the Lord promised him forgiveness and eternal life.

Death on the Cross

The evangelists testify that among those present at Calvary that day were people who sincerely loved Jesus and experienced a severe shock at the sight of his suffering. Among them was His Mother the Virgin Mary, whose grief is indescribable, the closest disciple - the Apostle John, Mary Magdalene, as well as several other women from among His followers. On the icons, the plot of which is the Crucifixion of Christ (photos presented in the article), this scene is conveyed with special drama.

Further, the evangelists tell that around the ninth hour, which in our opinion corresponds to about 15 hours, Jesus cried out to the Heavenly Father, and then, after tasting the vinegar offered to Him on the tip of a spear as an anesthetic, he expired. This was immediately followed by many heavenly signs: the veil in the temple was torn in two, the stones broke up, the earth opened up, and the bodies of the dead rose from it.

Conclusion

Everyone who was on Golgotha was horrified by what they saw, as it became obvious that the man they crucified was truly the Son of God. This scene is also shown with unusual vividness and expressiveness in the film about the crucifixion of Christ mentioned above. Since the evening of the Easter meal was approaching, the body of the executed, according to tradition, was to be removed from the Cross, which was exactly done. Beforehand, to make sure of His death, one of the soldiers pierced the side of Jesus with a spear, and blood mixed with water flowed from the wound.

Precisely because on the Cross Jesus Christ performed an act of atonement for human sins and thereby opened the way to eternal life for the children of God, this gloomy instrument of execution has been a symbol of sacrifice and boundless love for people for two millennia.