““I believe that if we are to I believe that if we are to maintain biblical Christianity maintain biblical Christianity

we must refocus our we must refocus our attention on the cross. We attention on the cross. We must live and celebrate it. must live and celebrate it.

At a time when more At a time when more Christians in the world are Christians in the world are dying for Christ than at any dying for Christ than at any

time in the history of the time in the history of the faith, we must even be ready faith, we must even be ready

to die for it.”to die for it.”~ Michael Card, Artist and Author~ Michael Card, Artist and Author

““Of all the questions Of all the questions regularly asked about regularly asked about

Jesus, the question ‘Why Jesus, the question ‘Why did Jesus die?’ must be did Jesus die?’ must be

among the most among the most frequent. It is certainly frequent. It is certainly the most fascinating.”the most fascinating.”

~ N. T. Wright, Historian~ N. T. Wright, Historian

““It is no surprise, in view of It is no surprise, in view of his teachings and actions, his teachings and actions, that Jesus was crucified. that Jesus was crucified.

What is surprising is that it What is surprising is that it did not happen sooner.”did not happen sooner.”

~ Ben Witherington III, ~ Ben Witherington III, Historian & TheologianHistorian & Theologian

““Jesus was not busy with Jesus was not busy with a religious revival; he was a religious revival; he was busy with a revolution – a busy with a revolution – a revolution in religion, in revolution in religion, in

politics, and in everything politics, and in everything else.”else.”

~ Albert Nolan, Historian~ Albert Nolan, Historian

““We should begin our study with We should begin our study with two firm facts before us: Jesus was two firm facts before us: Jesus was executed by the Romans as would-executed by the Romans as would-

be ‘king of the Jews’, and his be ‘king of the Jews’, and his disciples subsequently formed a disciples subsequently formed a messianic movement which was messianic movement which was not based on the hope of military not based on the hope of military victory. The difficulty explaining victory. The difficulty explaining

how to hold these two facts how to hold these two facts together is the fundamental together is the fundamental

problem involved in attempting to problem involved in attempting to understand the death of Jesus.”understand the death of Jesus.”

~ E. P. Sanders, Historian~ E. P. Sanders, Historian

““Jesus’ messianic calling led Jesus’ messianic calling led him not to military victory him not to military victory over Rome, but to death at over Rome, but to death at the hands of the Romans. the hands of the Romans.

This was an unwelcome and This was an unwelcome and virtually incomprehensible virtually incomprehensible vision in the eyes of Jesus’ vision in the eyes of Jesus’ contemporaries, including contemporaries, including

his closest followers.”his closest followers.”~ Mark D. Roberts, ~ Mark D. Roberts,

New Testament ScholarNew Testament Scholar

““When Jews of Jesus’ day When Jews of Jesus’ day celebrated Passover, its celebrated Passover, its

message of freedom naturally message of freedom naturally resonated into their own resonated into their own

context. What God had done context. What God had done to Egypt, He would do to Rome. to Egypt, He would do to Rome.

What He had done for Israel What He had done for Israel then, He would do for her then, He would do for her again. … That’s why the again. … That’s why the

Romans were on special alert Romans were on special alert over the holiday period.”over the holiday period.”

~ N.T. Wright, ~ N.T. Wright, Historian & TheologianHistorian & Theologian

““Jesus was following, and Jesus was following, and advocating, an agenda advocating, an agenda which involved setting which involved setting aside some of the most aside some of the most central and cherished central and cherished

symbols of the Judaism of symbols of the Judaism of his day, and replacing his day, and replacing them with loyalty to them with loyalty to

himself. Passover was no himself. Passover was no exception.”exception.”

~ N. T. Wright, ~ N. T. Wright, Historian & TheologianHistorian & Theologian

As Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem, he

took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. "When we get to Jerusalem," he said, "the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading

priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand

him over to the Romans to be mocked, whipped, and crucified. But on the third day

he will be raised from the dead."

~ Matthew 20:17-19 (NLT)

As Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem, he

took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. "When we get to Jerusalem," he said, "the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading

priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand

him over to the Romans to be mocked, whipped, and crucified. But on the third day

he will be raised from the dead."

~ Matthew 20:17-19 (NLT)

““What is difficult for our culture to What is difficult for our culture to understand, indeed what it cannot understand, indeed what it cannot understand on its own terms, is an understand on its own terms, is an orientation to one’s life that is not orientation to one’s life that is not

focused on self at all, either as self-focused on self at all, either as self-esteem, or self-abasement, as self-esteem, or self-abasement, as self-

fulfillment or self-emptying.”fulfillment or self-emptying.”

~ M. Eugene Boring, ~ M. Eugene Boring, New Testament ScholarNew Testament Scholar

Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high

officials exercise authority over them. [43] Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your

servant, [44] and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. [45] For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

~ Mark 10:42-45 (TNIV)

““The events of the last supper are The events of the last supper are enacted against the backdrop of a enacted against the backdrop of a

cosmic struggle between the powers cosmic struggle between the powers of good and evil.”of good and evil.”

~ Gail R. O’Day, ~ Gail R. O’Day, New Testament ScholarNew Testament Scholar

Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They all

responded again, "We will do everything the Lord has commanded. We will obey."[8] Then Moses sprinkled the blood from

the basins over the people and said, "This blood confirms the covenant the Lord has made with you in giving you

these laws."

~ Exodus 24:7-8 (NLT)

"And I will turn against anyone, whether an Israelite or a foreigner living among you, who eats or drinks blood in any form. I will cut off such a person from the community, [11] for the life of any creature is in its blood. I have

given you the blood so you can make atonement for your sins. It is the blood,

representing life, that brings you atonement. [12] That is why I said to the Israelites: 'You and the foreigners who live among you must

never eat or drink blood.'

~ Leviticus 17:10-12 (NLT)

““Their stomachs must have been in Their stomachs must have been in knots. The Gospels give no knots. The Gospels give no

indication that a word was spoken in indication that a word was spoken in response. For a change, these response. For a change, these

twelve men sat in absolute, stunned twelve men sat in absolute, stunned silence. Words failed to describe silence. Words failed to describe

their feelings.”their feelings.”

~ Chuck Swindol, Pastor~ Chuck Swindol, Pastor

"Come, let us return to the Lord.For He has torn us, but He will heal us;

He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.

[2] "He will revive us after two days;He will raise us up on the third day,

That we may live before Him.

~ Hosea 6:1-2 (NASB)