Through the eyes of natural reasoning, the cross is the symbol of an absolute shameful beating, and the crucified is the greatest loser. Nonetheless, in the eyes of faith, the cross is the most unique instrument of victory, and the resurrected Jesus the only and absolute conqueror.
Why would Jesus look like a loser through the eyes of natural reasoning?
Jesus’ life failed to depict a king on his way to victory, in fact quite the opposite. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces He was despised, and we held Him in low esteem. (Is 53:2-3 NVI)
Isaiah’s prophecy describes what the eyes of natural reasoning were going to see in Jesus: no more than an ordinary man. Let’s consider the last days of His life. Jesus approached Jerusalem, surrounded by crowds shouting:
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Matt. 21:9)
Jerusalem was stirred up when He entered the city, and the people asked: “Who is this?” Their eyes did not see the beauty or majesty of a king but a common man. Politically speaking, regardless of what they were seeing, this was the most reasonable time to become a king. However, Jesus distances Himself from the crowd. The night He was arrested, we don’t find Him busy doing strategies or cheering people up or gathering followers like anyone preparing himself to take a throne. Instead, we find that Jesus has fallen on His face (Matt 26:39b), even in agony, sweating “like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” He was praying earnestly to the Father, “…if You want, let this cup pass from Me.” (Luke 22:42,44)
The traitor Judas comes on the scene with a mob to take Jesus by force, and the disciples fled (Luke 22: 54-57). A court, made up of His enemies and false witnesses, judged Jesus speedily and found him guilty (Mar 14: 55-59). They bring Him to Pilate and then sent Him to Herod. Both considered Him not worthy of death (Luke 23: 1,4-9). Yet, Pilate orders Him to be examined. The soldiers mock Him, crown Him with thorns, whip, and beat him brutally. Then, they bring Him back to the Jews (John 19: 1-3). At this time, Jesus would have been disfigured because of the cruelty of the Roman soldiers (Isa 53: 3).
Pilate tries to set him free by instead condemning Barabbas, a murderous and seditious man (Luke 23: 16-21), but the crowd pushes back hard. Pilate washes his hands and turns Him over to be crucified (Mat 27: 23-26). Jesus, with the cross on His shoulders, begins His journey to Golgotha.
Does this look like the picture of a conqueror? (Luke 53:27; John 19:17, Luke 23:26) No. Nor does it to the women of Jerusalem who mourn along the way for Him (Luke 23:27). Weak and beaten, He cannot carry the cross (Ju 19:17; Ps 22:15), and they have a passerby help Him (Luke 23:26). Jesus makes it to Golgotha, and soldiers strip Him naked and cast lots for His clothes. He shows no opposition (Ju 19: 23-24a) while He is cruelly nailed to a cross.
Jesus is lifted and exposed to shame and public humiliation. Alone, beaten, and under the full wrath of God’s justice, He cries out, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:34). Would this battered, bloody, and dying man seem like a conqueror? Wouldn’t it rather be the figure of a loser? Yes, and that seems to be the thinking of the onlookers mocking Jesus (Mark 15: 29-30), chief priests and scribes scorning him (Mar 15: 31-32a), and even two thieves crucified at His side. Everyone expects Jesus to demonstrate how He could make it out of this (Mark 15: 32b; Luke 23: 35-39).
Finally, Jesus breathes His last breath. A soldier confirms it by piercing His side with his spear (John 19:34). The show is over. Jesus’ enemies seem to have outplayed him. Jesus’ body, a bloody mass, is lowered from the cross and hastily buried. The grave is sealed, and soldiers set to guard it (Mat 27: 62-66). Don’t you think the grave screams Jesus has failed?
Even two of his former disciples speak like that on their way to Emmaus (Luke 24: 19-21a)
Isaiah’s vision was correct. Through the eyes of natural reasoning, Jesus’ crucifixion was going to be seen as a failure. And even more, as “wounded, beaten by God, and humiliated.” (Isa 53: 4b)
Why is Jesus, the One who seems defeated, the absolute winner in the eyes of faith?
While the eyes of natural reasoning only see a crucified man, faith sees the reality behind the event of the cross.
1. The cross was the instrument of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Therefore I will give Him a portion among the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He poured out His life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12).
In His death, Jesus was giving us life.
God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins… (Col. 2: 13b).
Since Christ has overcome on the cross, it is no longer an emblem of shame, but a symbol of glory.
2. The cross was the battlefield where Jesus disarmed his enemies.
We sinned against God, and we are doomed. The law condemns us, so we have to die. “For the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law.” (1 Cor. 15: 55-56) There was no way around the fact we had to pay. Satan, the accuser, eagerly wants us to pay this infinite debt. However, Jesus canceled the obligation and took out of the way the accusation against us.
Having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us which was hostile to us, and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (Col. 2:14) In ancient times a bond was canceled, either by exchanging the writing or piercing it with a nail. Jesus annulled it by nailing it to the cross.
If the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demand is set aside, now, “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. (Rom. 8:33-35)
3. The cross was the battlefield where Jesus triumphed over His enemies.
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. (Col 2:15)
John Calvin comments on this passage. “The cross is compared to a unique hunting trophy, an instrument of His triumph with which He crushed His enemies. He also compares it to a triumphal chariot in which He showed himself with great magnificence. Although on the cross, there is nothing but a curse, yet it was absorbed by the power of God. Therefore, so to speak, it has adopted a new nature. For there is no tribune so magnificent, no throne so august, no sign of triumph so distinguished, no carriage so eminent and honorable, as it is the gallows on which Christ has subdued death, and the devil, the prince of death. Even more, He has put them under the soles of His feet.”
Spurgeon also comments. “Christ made of his cross a trophy, a public spectacle of his triumph. It was like when a victorious Roman general was returning after winning the battle. At that time, the defeated were tied to the conqueror’s chariot to enter Rome, followed by the stripped goods and the rear by the army.
Indeed, how different were the events to the eyes of natural reasoning!
It is true that Jesus was crucified, but it is also true that He has risen! It is also true the tomb is empty, death has been stripped off, and our enemies ashamed! Therefore, far from being a loser, Jesus is more than a conqueror!
The loneliness of Jesus is turned into a great lineage of many redeemed by Him. The anguish of His soul is swallowed up in joy, seeing the will of God prospered in His hand (Isa 53: 10-11). The crown of thorns is turned into a laurel crown. The crucified Jesus has risen, has been exalted, and has been declared the King of Glory!
Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle!
Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory!” (Psalm 24: 7-10)
