Provocative, yes? Whatever Mel Gibson has done wrong in his life since his movie, “The Passion of the Christ,” he did something right in its production. He chose, for symbolic reasons, to have his own hands filmed nailing Jesus to the Cross. His recognition of culpability is compelling.
I remember the charges of “anti-Semitism” for their role, but biblically, the Romans killed Jesus at the behest of the Jewish leadership who had “stirred up the crowd” (Mark 15:11; cf. Acts 2:22-23). Besides, that indictment should have been mitigated by Gibson’s metaphorically taking blame in his role with the hammer and nail. “Who killed Jesus?” many instigators asked. “I did,” answer all who truly understand the cross.
Charged with a predilection for bad company, Jesus answers, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick” (Luke 5:31b). The irony is wasted on those, then and now, who believe they “are well” (see Romans 3:23). We all have the same sickness – sin – and there’s only one cure (see John 6:44; 14:6). As few would choose chemotherapy without exigencies, no one seeks the cross without understanding their need and its provision.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). It is the biblical Christian’s acceptance of our common diagnosis, and its corollary prognosis, that opens our eyes to the substitutionary efficacy of Christ’s death, and to the Scriptures that proclaim this truth (Isaiah 53; 1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
The “why?” of the cross has been subjected to all manner of lathing and sanding to get rid of sharp corners and rough edges – every humanly objectionable, but heavenly requisite, morsel of truth. Not only is the “danger: harmful to self-esteem” placard pasted on our self-blaming above, the God who would substitute his own Son to take the penalty due us becomes guilty of “divine child abuse.” Rubbish.
The biblical Christian must contend with the truth that Christ’s greatest suffering came not from the scourging, thorny crown, and nail-pierced hands and feet, nor even his abandonment by his disciples. Jesus’ physical/emotional abuse was not insignificant, but not the zenith of his pain.
Instead, it is in drinking “the cup” of the wrath of God he previously sought to avoid before bowing to his Father’s will (Matthew 26:39). We cannot fathom the expense, nor imagine what transpired between the Father and the Son, but we do know that in some sense Jesus was “forsaken” (Matthew 27:46) by the Father he had been in eternal communion with. Thus, Jesus’ greatest suffering was at the hands of his Father.
Further, humanity didn’t paint God into a “Plan B” corner. His holiness demanded payment, so “Jesus (was) delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23; cf. Isaiah 53:10). And, Jesus was willing, declaring that no one would take his life, but that he would “lay it down of (his) own accord” (John 10:17-18).
These facts are not exculpatory for you and me or for those more directly blameworthy in that day. It was our sin Jesus carried to the cross, drinking that cup meant for us…at a cost we can’t comprehend.
Planned as it was, the Father is not on the lengthy list of those to “blame,” for in costly grace, His self-sacrifice compares with that of the Son. Their cooperative, atoning work is more than sufficient to bear the sin of those who are responsible, but embrace the Savior who is “mighty to save.”