An Execution, Not Simply A Crucifixion
The crucifixion of Jesus wasn’t simply a crucifixion.
It was an execution.
It was a state sanctioned death of an innocent man.
This was nothing new,
And it still happens today in our own country as the state sanctions the executions of people, even innocent people, on death row.
We wash our hands of it, just like Pilate, claiming it is not our fault people are in these situations - even though the Supreme Court itself has said the system will give people of color a harsher sentence claiming it is “an inevitable part of our criminal justice system.”1
These state sanctioned executions also extend to those killed by gun violence in schools, places of worship, clubs and even sleeping in their own homes. The state continues to allow it to happen - though we find a whole slew of Boeing airplanes grounded because of the dangers someone “might” die. It’s wonderful we care about the lives of people flying and heartbreaking that we continue to wash our hands of the executions we sanction by our refusal to address gun violence.
We are also seeing state sanctioned executions happen in Gaza as Israel continues to kill innocent people - and our own country funds and supplies them the weapons to do it, while washing our hands of it as Pilate.
This list could go on and on.
Do not be confused.
The cross is not simply about sacrifice.
The cross is a reminder of the very real horrors of life being taken to easily, mocked, spit on, and treated as worthless.
This should horrify us, call us to notice the ways Jesus is being executed all around us…and make us pause as we realize that too many times we justify death by calling it a “sacrifice.”
We remember the execution of Jesus, not only to remember what Jesus went through, but to recognize the horrors of what we are allowing Jesus to go through today - as we remember the words of Christ “what you do to the least of these…you do to me.”
