How Did Jesus Understand His Death?
How Did Jesus Understand His Own Death?
Brian Zahnd
A question for Good Friday:
How did Jesus understand his own death?
What meaning did Jesus give to his crucifixion?
Did Jesus have a “theology of the cross”?
Jesus repeatedly predicted his own death by crucifixion to his inner-circle of disciples, but did Jesus ever speak about what it meant?
Yes.
In Jerusalem a few days before Good Friday Jesus said this in reference to his impending crucifixion:
Now is the judgment of the world.
Now will the ruler of the world be cast out.
And when I am lifted up from the earth—
I will draw all people to myself.
–John 12:31, 32
Jesus says his crucifixion (seen in the light of resurrection) does three things…
1. Judges the world.
2. Reorganizes humanity.
3. Drives out the satan.
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