Why The Cross?

I ask that for 2 reasons.

1. Why did they have to use a cross to kill Jesus?

2. Why did Jesus have to die?

First things first. Why was a cross used in the death of Jesus? From about 600 years before Christ was born through 400 years after, the cross was viewed as death. It was the most torturous form of capital punishment known to man. A person was nailed or bound to the wooden beams and left hanging there until they lost the air in their lungs. The term excruciating actually means, out of crucifying. For those being crucified, it actually became so difficult to breathe, that they would try to push themselves up with their feet to open up their lungs to get another breath. I can't imagine the pain you would endure in order for that to happen. The weight of your body on the bone or cartilage that is resting on that little nail poking through your 2 feet together.

The Passion of the Christ, Crucifixion scene.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CpQie8ks4c

Paul Washer describes why the cross was necessary. (We only showed from 1:40-5:02)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXOWyjB7d24

Because of the sacrifice that was made on the cross, those who place their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation are guaranteed eternal life. John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him will have everlasting life."

Mathew 16 , ²⁴ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it. ²⁶ What will it benefit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life? ²⁷ For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will reward each according to what he has done. ²⁸ I assure you: There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ^{[k] 20} and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body,^[l] I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Paul Washer ends by saying that we need to repent. So what does it mean to repent? To repent is to turn from something. To make a 180 degree about face. To repent of our sins is to turn from them. If we're doing something that is sinful it's like we are walking away from God, but if we repent, we turn and are now walking back toward God and closer to Him.

We all have stuff in our life called sin, that is keeping us from walking toward God. The cross made it possible that we can turn from that stuff and be welcomed into the arms of God, for eternity.