The question is often asked, Why the Cross? Why did Jesus have to suffer and die such a humiliating death? Begin your search in Romans 5 (key vs.15-21). In summary, follow with me: In the beginning man was perfect, without blemish, the crown of God's creation, created with eternal life for eternal intimacy with Him. Given a will to choose this continued relationship, he thus offended God by, (1) his disobedience to God's commands, and (2) his desire to be like Him, not satisfied in his created position (as Satan wasn't). This offence could not be lifted by Adam in his now fallen state to appease God's anger. Since Adam, all have gone astray; none are born, nor have become righteous through obeying God's commands (Law) or performing righteous deeds. Isaiah says that "Our righteousness is as filthy rags." Or simply put, since we are all flawed from the first, then all our works are flawed as well, no matter how good they may be. Hence, no offering of ours to God is good enough. We cannot give back what He gave to us that we lost and no longer own, the only thing He will accept in like payment for what He also lost?our eternal soul captured by Satan in the Garden. No amount of our right living will acquire it.

As a result, another must come, as the first, fully perfect with a free will, but obedient this time unto death to secure it for Himself that He might freely offer it to the family of His Blood -- His Beneficiaries. This Second Adam must possess from the beginning what we once had: a sinless state, and yet keep it, remaining untarnished from this world's allurement. Where the first Adam failed, this Second must align His own will in this life to the Father's will as originally intended -- to maintain an abiding relationship through obedience to His commands. Through the disobedience of the first Adam, God was offended and man lost what he could not regain. Only that which he lost of equal value could be offered back to God to take away that offence. Jesus, the Second Adam, was that equal offering that Adam I once was, but man no longer is. God now must accept that which Jesus has offered: a perfect life who fulfilled all His Law in total obedience per His requirement for appeasement. Therefore, only Jesus' life could appease an offended God to obtain His favor for us all that He might win us back to Him. (Study the contrast of the rich young ruler's obedience to this Law and that of Jesus'. Examine the difference in willingness, though Jesus said he had obeyed them all, yet still imperfect in heart. In him, we see that the best of that day, or any day, still displays the inward fallen condition of the heart, no matter how benevolent his life may be lived. Only in Jesus do we see the total concert of both the perfect heart and unselfish actions that reflect the pure life capable of its sacrifice for God's appeasement of the fallen human heart's condition.)

And so why the Cross? Why did it have to be this death; why not by another method in use then, or at any other point in time? Men have devised a myriad of horrendous ways to inflict suffering and death upon guilty and innocent men alike throughout his history. Why not another time and another method? Why then, and why the Cross?

THE VERY BEST, IN WILLING OBEDIENCE, HAD TO BE SUBJUGATED TO THE EXTREME LOWEST TO APPEASE THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF OFFENCE THAT DISOBEDIENT MAN HAD INFLICTED UPON A HOLY GOD!

Christ on the Cross in open shame before the world -- family, friends, Jews, Romans, and all passers-by to see in apparent defeat (at the hand of Satan) -- was that ultimate humiliation of any man necessary to turn God's head once again to him (not stoning). As agreed to by every credible historian and Jurist, no other method has ever been so cruel in pain and open shame in punishment than the cross of Rome. It was later banned under Constantine and has not been employed since. No, stoning, hanging, the guillotine, nor any other method begins to compare to the horrors of both victims of and witnesses to this cruel crucifixion as executed by Roman method. It was meant to send a death chill into those who witnessed it, or heard of its horrors by those who had -- that men might obey Roman law. By their law, it was reserved for two classes of criminals, (1) men who had committed the most heinous crimes in their day, and (2) slaves. Roman citizens were exempted from its cruelty. At times, Roman roads at the entry of major cities were littered with these crucified bodies like modern day power poles along our highways. Imagine the scene on your next drive. And such was this sight at the north west entry of Jerusalem, the main thoroughfare from Damascus and beyond.

The right price, then, paid by the right Man paying it, obtained clear access for anyone to what all once had but lost: Eternal Life for Eternal Intimacy with God, man's Creator! But, as with any beneficiary to an estate left by another, it must be accepted personally. Why then do men continue to live as paupers when each can become a child of the King? And although Jesus was Jewish by blood, a descendant of Abraham and successor to David's throne, He was also a son of Adam as well (as we all are), making Him equally a member of the human race. As such then, all now who choose, not just the Jews, but Gentiles as well, may rightfully enter into the Estate of His Kingdom. This He prayed for in His most recent prayer (17:24, 20). Isn't He Wonderful? (Study Romans 8 thoroughly here, key vs.11-18.)

And For This Purpose This Holy And Obedient One Will Rise Again!