Ask class members who is wearing any kind of jewelry that includes a cross. See if anyone has a
story as to the origins of how they came to own that jewelry and/or any particular sentimental
value they attach to it.
Crucifixion was a widespread method of execution in the ancient world. Cicero calls it the
“most cruel and disgusting penalty” that inflicted “pain and agony” on its victims who
endured the “worst extreme of the tortures inflicted on slaves.”1 Crucifixion wasn’t used for
just any crime; it was reserved for rebels, insurrectionists, seditionists, and other threats to the
government. For the Roman Empire in particular, crucifixion was used on slaves, extreme
criminals, and others who were not citizens. (Roman citizens, on the whole, could not be
crucified.)
The historian Josephus notes that those inflicting this punishment hoped it would serve as a
deterrent; this is why executioners would often set up crucifixions along busy highways. They
wanted others to see what would happen if they caused problems with the government.
While the Jews themselves didn’t typically practice crucifixion, their texts (mainly what we
now call the Old Testament) know of its horrific nature. Even back in Deuteronomy, we read
that people who were hung from trees were viewed as cursed (21:23).
When the Romans executed someone, they would hang a list of the accusations against that
person. This explains the sign “King of the Jews” hung above Jesus. This was an accusation, not
just a mocking title.
1
Verr. 2.5.64.165-170, 2.5.66.169, quoted in John A. Dennis, “Death of Jesus,” Dictionary of Jesus and the
Gospels, 2nd ed, edited by Joel B. Green, Jeannine K. Brown, and Nicholas Perrin (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity
Press, 2013), 173.
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Jesus extends forgiveness to a paralyzed man (Mark 2:5).
o This would have angered the temple priests because Jesus was offering
forgiveness outside the stipulated temple system.
Jesus touches lepers and heals bleeding women.
o Temple leaders would have seen Jesus disregarding purity laws and thus
disgracing the temple.
Jesus threatens the temple’s destruction (e.g., “destroy this temple and I will rebuild it
in three days”).
o Though Jesus never says that he will destroy the temple, that is exactly what
people hear him saying.
o In Mark’s Gospel, as soon as Jesus is finished cleansing the temple and then
prophesying its destruction, “[t]he chief priests and the teachers of the law
heard this and began looking for a way to kill him” (11:18).
 In other words, Jesus’ prediction about the temple destruction is what
moves the temple leaders to try to kill him.

Jesus claims (or doesn’t deny the charge) to be the “Son of God” and the “Messiah”
(Matt 26:65-66; Mark 14:63-64).
o The Jewish leaders heard Jesus making claims about being the “chosen one” that
they did not believe to be true. According to their definition, Jesus couldn’t be
the Messiah.
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Many episodes where Jesus gets into trouble feature the Pharisees accusing him of
ignoring the law (e.g., eating with sinners, not properly washing dishes, healing on the
Sabbath, etc.)
One ancient source, the Babylonian Talmud, states that Jesus was crucified because he
“practiced sorcery and enticed Israel to apostasy.”3
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When the Jews, who are mainly upset above the things we’ve just mentioned, take Jesus
to the Romans to be executed, they have to invent or emphasize charges that will get
the Romans’ attention.
2
This section relies heavily on Dennis, 176.
3
Dennis, 175.
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The Jews accuse Jesus of inciting a revolt and of telling people not to pay taxes (Luke
23:2).
Putting together all the charges and threats above, maybe we can begin to construct a picture
of why Jesus was executed, and why the method of crucifixion was chosen.
 Why did the Jews want Jesus killed?
 Why did the Romans want Jesus killed?
 What does the method of execution say about how the Romans viewed
Jesus?
Read Matthew 27:27-54
Imagine that you are a first century Jew hoping that God will finally send the new king, the
Messiah, to make things right.
Now imagine that you see this supposed king
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With a mocking crown of thorns on his head (Matt 27:29)
Being forced to carry his own cross (27:32)
Having his clothes gambled away (27:35)
Being crucified in the middle of two rebellious criminals (27:38)
Being easily insulted by onlookers (27:39ff)
Unable to save himself from death (27:42)
Asking God why he has been forsaken (27:46)
 What would your reaction be?
 What would you expect to happen/not happen to God’s new king, and
how does that differ from what you’re seeing?
First century Jews who were expecting a strong, triumphant king were surely disappointed to
see Jesus being executed. How could God’s new king let himself be executed?
Paul knows this problem. He knows it was true for the Jews, and it is true for us. He writes that
“the message of the cross is foolishness” (1 Cor 1:18) and that a crucified savior is “a stumbling
block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” (1 Cor 1:23).
 How was the cross foolish to first century Jews and Gentiles?
 What expectations do we have that might make a crucified Jesus seem
like foolishness to us?
 Are you ever embarrassed of the story and message of Jesus? When does
this most often happen?
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 How is Jesus’ death (and eventual resurrection) a triumph? What did it
accomplish?
Note: the results/meaning of Jesus’ death could be an entirely different
lesson. Feel free to select a few scriptures along this line to share with the
class.
 How does death on a cross go along with the broader theme we’ve seen of
Jesus doing things that people were not expecting?
Read the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ resurrection.
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