Room 4: “Pierced for Our Transgression”
VERBAL WALKTHROUGH + BACKGROUND MUSIC
BACKGROUND MUSIC ONLY
1) Pierced for Our Transgressions
The nails driven into the hands and feet of our Lord were each 5 to 7 inches long. Imagine the excruciating pain our Lord Jesus felt as the nails pierced his flesh.
The scenes of our Lord Jesus crucified on the cross brings to mind two pertinent perspectives of crucifixion from the Romans and Jews.
To the Romans,
“Crucifixion is probably the most cruel method of execution ever practiced, for it deliberately delayed death until maximum torture had been inflicted. The victim could suffer for days before dying. When the Romans adopted it, they reserved it for criminals convicted of murder, rebellion or armed robbery, provided they were also slaves, foreigners or other nonpersons.”
John Stott, The Cross of Christ (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2006), 29.
2) Jesus' Relationship with God severed
While we often focus on the pain that our Lord experienced, we forget that Roman crucifixion quite literally stripped an individual of being “human.”
To the Jews, crucifixion would be no less of an abomination because Israel did not make a distinction between hanging from a tree and crucifixion on a cross. Deuteronomy 21:23 clearly states that “anyone who is hung on a tree is cursed by God.”
The crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Messiah would mean that Jesus not only lost his identity as human, but also had his relationship with God severed. Indeed, “he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our inequities… The Lord has laid on him the inequity of us all.” Bearing the burden of our sins upon his broken body, is it any wonder that Jesus cried out:
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
(Matthew 27:46)
3) Despite the Pain
Yet as we look at two of Jesus’ final sayings on the cross, we begin to comprehend his depth of love for humanity.
First, as we consider Jesus’ incredible suffering, the brutal flogging, crown of thorns raking into his brow, the agony of nails being driven into his hands and feet, what response would we expect from someone who has suffered thus? Jesus’ prayer is extraordinary! “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” This, my friends, is incredible grace!
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
(Luke 23:34)
4) Mary and John
Moreover, as Jesus’ gaze fell upon his mother at the foot of the cross, weeping, heartbroken and inconsolable, his heart goes out to her despite his agony. “Woman, here is your son… Here is your mother,” Jesus gasped, entrusting the care of his mother to his beloved disciple.
“Women, here is your son… Here is your mother.”
(John 19:26-27)
Dear friends, it is quite unfathomable that in spite of the terrible struggle to draw breath and the unbearable pain, Jesus still demonstrated amazing love, not just for his family but for his tormentors. Even to his dying breath, Jesus thought of others.
As you move from painting to painting in this room, allow this song to speak of Jesus’ immense love to you.
