Why was Jesus crucified at Golgotha?
On the human level, Judas betrayed him to the priests, who in turn handed him over to Pilate, who in turn gave him to the soldiers, who obediently crucified him.
Seen from heaven (and by us in retrospect through revelation) the Father gave up his Incarnate Son and the Incarnate Son, Jesus, gave up himself voluntarily, to die for the sins of the world, and thus for us. From this perspective, it is true to say: "Who delivered up Jesus to die? Not Judas, for money; not the Jews for envy; not Pilate for fear; but the Father, for LOVE."
The apostle Peter makes this double point of the evil intentions of men and the loving providence of God using the evil of man for the good of man in Acts 2:23 & 4:28 (cf. also 1 Peter 1:19-20).
The cross both exposes the sin & evil of man, Jewish and Gentile, and, at the same time, reveals the divine purpose of the Holy Trinity to bring salvation, redemption, and grace upon grace to the same evil man through the voluntary death of the Second Adam, the Son of God incarnate.
Let us this Good Friday spend time with the Blessed Virgin Mary, John the apostle and other disciples at the foot of the Cross of Jesus.
The Rev'd Dr. Peter Toon
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