The Crucifixion

The Crucifixion

“At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.  
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 
When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.” 
One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said. 
With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. 
The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.  
And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” 
Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.  In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.” 
Mark 15:33-41
The Crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus is the most holy moment of the Christian faith.
At this moment in time we Christians believe that Jesus took upon himself the sin of the entire world.
It is a seminal event in the history of the world. John the Baptist said of Jesus,
...“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” 
                                                                                        John 1:29b.
Jesus showed in human terms how far God would go to reconcile fallen mankind to himself.
Yet some today would deny that this happened. However there is proof outside the Bible in none other than the Jewish Talmud,
The Talmud makes note of Jesus' crucifixion. It is dated as "on the eve of the Feast of the Passover" in agreement with the Gospel (Luke 22:1; John 19:31). Similar again to the Gospel (Matt. 27:51), 
 Flavius Josephus in his book, The Jewish War, also confirmed these events.
Although not explicitly referred to by name, later rabbis identify the person as Jesus. These references to Jesus are neither sympathetic to Him or His Church. Also these writings were preserved through the centuries by Jews, so Christians cannot be accused of tampering with the text.
   Flavius Josephus, who lived until 98 A.D., was a romanized Jewish historian. He wrote books on Jewish history for the Roman people. In his book, Jewish Antiquities, he made references to Jesus. In one reference he wrote:
“About this time arose Jesus, a wise man, who did good deeds and whose virtues were recognized. And many Jews and people of other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. However, those who became his disciples preached his doctrine. They related that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive. Perhaps he was the Messiah in connection with whom the prophets foretold wonders.” [Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, XVIII 3.2]
Note what Josephus states, “They related that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive. Perhaps he was the Messiah in connection with whom the prophets foretold wonders.”
Jesus is indeed the Messiah, the suffering Messiah spoken of by Isaiah in chapter 53 of his book,
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” 
                                                                     Isaiah 53:3-6.
Jesus said,
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” 
                                                                                                      John 10:10,11.
Jesus laid down his life for you and for me. He became the ultimate sacrifice that we may have eternal life. A life with God.
Think about it.