Is the crucifixion of Jesus considered a bad thing? I ask because that's the central point of Christianity.

Question

His crucifixion was certainly a sacrifice for the benefit of others. But is it considered that those who killed him did a bad thing? Some people blame the Roman procurator at the time for sentencing him to death, but if that had not happened, then there would be no such thing as Christianity. Could someone please explain?

Answer 1

Actually, the central point of christianity, is doing what christ did.
What did he do? he devoted all of his life after baptism, to spreading the good news of god's kingdom.

Answer 2

It depends on who is doing the considering. For the point of a person who does not believe in Jesus Christ, is not a follower, it is a bad thing. Bad people killed a very good man who did not deserve it. For a believer it is ultimately a good thing because through it God provided salvation for lost humanity.
By the way, the crucifixion is not the central point of Christianity, the Resurrection is.
Your question "...if that had not happened, then there would be no..." is really asking, Who or what is the ultimate cause for the events of history? One would have to say, within the Christian framework, that cause is God, and yet we (any human) do not know exactly how that works. I can see that my watch keeps the time, but I do not know exactly how it does it.
I can say this, too, that there are ultimate causes and intermediate causes. Like the President orders and invasion. Generals plan it and put it into motion. Ultimately who is to blame? Only God gets to decide that!
Another way of putting your question is the old philosophical debate: Is everything pre-determined ("determinism") or do we have such a thing as free will? Are we humans merely puppets, acting out the events of history, both large and small, with someone else or other things, influences, circumstances pulling the strings? Or are our choices and decisions real and effective? My own opinion is that it is not a case of the one or the other but a measure of both.

Answer 3

Crucifixion was the Roman penalty for rebellion. Only slaves or those who were not Roman citizens could be crucified. If Jesus died by crucifixion, He would die the death of a rebel and slave, not of the king he claimed to be. This is just what the Jewish religious leaders wanted, and the reason they whipped the mob into a frenzy. In addition, crucifixion would put the responsibility for killing Jesus on the Romans. Although Jesus was innocent according to Roman law, Pilate caved in to political pressure and he abandoned what he knew was right. As a result Jesus was nailed to the cross. But God turned this situation into our benefit & Christianity is what Jesus sacrifice represents . Jesus died for us because He loves us & paid for our sins. So what was intended to be bad was turned into good. Jesus was resurrected & now sits at the right hand of God (Mark 15,1-47, 16:1-19) <>< <><

Answer 4

The humans who crucified Christ were doing so as part of God's plan. Kind of like if you look in Exodus, it says that God explicitly hardened Pharoah's heart and would not let the Israelites free. So God caused a human to do something that seemed bad but was necessary to fulfill God's master plan. Same thing with the crucifixion. Human beings had to carry out the actual act on Earth so God's will would be done. Some people blame the Romans, some people blame the Jews, but these are largely based on ancient political undertones.

Answer 5

The act of a crucifixion is a horrible punishment to a "major" crime. Because Jesus said that He was the Son of God, the Jews considered it blasphemy (matt. 26:65). Yes, it was a sacrifice, but it was the ultimate sacrifice that the Father offered. In the Old Testament, an unblemished lamb was offered for sins. Jesus was the unblemished (sinless) Lamb that the Father offered for our (mankind's) sins, including those Romans and Jews that carried it out. The horrible cruelty and pain and punishment that Christ suffered was a punishment that we, as sinners, deserve. But He suffered it for us. It had to be done to redeem man. It is the Lord's plan of salvation for mankind (Gen. 3:15). And because it was carried out, even those who were responsible for the crucifixion was given the opportunity to repent (Acts 2:36-38). But the central point of Christianity would have to be the resurrection of Christ. Without that, there'd be no hope of eternal life with the Lord (Rom. 6:3-5).

Answer 6

Interestingly enough - Christians claim that it was supposed to happen, because that is how God planned the same world - yet at the same time these very Christians blame the Jews for Christ's death. A little know fact is that there is a Christian book that was circulated in the first few centuries. In it, it talks about Pilate repenting for his sins and being forgiven.

In the church and down through the centuries (not just Catholics, check out Martin Luther's writings if you don't believe me) Jews were persecuted and discriminated against for having killed the Messiah. Yet at the same time it was ordained by God supposedly for him to die.

It's a double edge sword - that still fuels hate towards the Jews to this day.

Answer 7

Gods plan went forward; nothing was going to stop that. Just as there are people who fulfill the positive parts of Gods plan, there are also those who fulfill the negative parts, which are equally as necessary to the plan at large.
This is another reason why its good not to judge anyone; You do not know whats behind a decision someone makes, but God does. He
is in control, and although He will not interfere with anyone who has free will, the Biblical manuscripts tell us that there is a group who are Elect of God. This group of people do not have free will, because they have already been judged when they stood stedfast on the side of God during the war when Satan rebelled.
So, since they do not need the free will, God can move them in ways that works toward the fulfillment of His plan.
I hope this is helpful to you; I realize that whats in the manuscripts is not generally taught in the churches. I only teach directly from them.

Answer 8

Jesus wanted them all to be forgiven because they didnt realize what they were doing. In the end one of the soldiers said "This truley was the Son of God". We dont know how many turned to following Jesus later. Paul didnt believe Jesus and persecuted Christians and then became a great witness to the gospel. No, it wasnt a bad thing, it was a good thing and all went according to plan. It was prophesized before it happened and He had to shed blood to be a sacrifice for us and be crucified.

Answer 9

okay Jesus did not die on a cross he was impaled on a torture stake the cross is the simple of False Religion only and it wasn't Pilates fault (Roman procurator) he tried to set Jesus free but the people would not have it and if he would have set Jesus free we would not have the promise of everlasting life and yes it was wrong what the Romans did to Jesus but he held no grudge against them he even prayed to Jehovah and said Father please forgive them for the do not know what they do

Answer 10

yes it was! Jesus was a good man,accused of being the Christ (a title not a name) the king of Jews, he always denied that. Saul the prosecuter could not get him in one court took the charge to another court, and for peace the Romans crucified him. then Saul changed his name (smart man) to Paul and started a new cult, opposite to everything that Jesus was. if your beliefs keep you on the path of peace, good on you! Your Prince of peace, the all forgiving god, has had millions killed in his name, God forgive you!

Answer 11

As horrible as it was, that is why Jesus came to earth. His life from birth to death was prophecies in the Old Testament from the beginning to the end of it. As a Christian, I don't dwell over who is responsible, as it was to be and that is what Jesus came for. You are right, had it not happened, there wouldn't be Christianity.