"But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation." Galatians 6:14-15
"Crucifixion—The most painful and the most degrading capital punishment, reserved for the worst crimes and for the lowest class of people. The Romans used a short beam fastened to a long upright one, on which was placed a piece of wood for the feet to rest on. Nails were driven through the hands and feet; but historians say that sometimes the feet were only tied. The torture was dreadful, and the thirst great; but in some cases life lasted three days, none of the vital parts being reached. The crucifixion of the Lord Jesus and of the two malefactors are the only cases named in scripture: crucifixion was not practiced by the Jews. A stupefying drink was given to the prisoners, but the Lord refused it. He would drink the bitter cup to the dregs. It is clear from scripture, by His crying with a loud voice just before His death, that as stated in John’s gospel (John 10:18) He gave up His life (Luke 23:46; John 19:30). The Lord referred to the manner of His death as being lifted up out of the earth, so that death by stoning would not have answered to this (John 3:14; John 8:28; John 12:32). We also read that He was made a curse for us; for
“Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Gal. 3:13; Deut. 21:23).
Thus did the blessed Lord in saving rebellious man go down to the very lowest form of death.
The crucifixion is used metaphorically to instruct those who are associated with Christ: of believers it is said their “old man” is crucified with Him (Rom. 6:6). Paul could say that he was crucified with Christ; and that by Christ the world was crucified to him, and he to the world (Gal. 2:20; Gal. 6:14). He accepted the judgment of himself in the cross, and he was cut off from the world by the same means."
From Concise Bible Dictionary: Crucifixion
"The Lord Jesus suffered because He was a holy Man. Being
“God manifest in the flesh” (1 Tim. 3:16)
, the whole make-up or constitution of the Person of our Lord Jesus was that of infinite holiness. The angel which spoke to Mary just prior to His incarnation said,
“That holy thing which shall be born unto thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35).
After His death and resurrection, the apostles prayed to God saying,
“Thy holy Servant Jesus, whom Thou hast anointed ... ” (Acts 4:27).
When the Lord condescended to enter this world, He came into a scene that was filled with sin and defilement. The whole world was polluted by sin—morally, spiritually, and physically. It was a scene that was totally foreign to His holy nature. Hence, being the holy Man that He was, He suffered from being in such an environment of corruption. Even though He came in contact with sin and sinners, He was never personally defiled by them—He remained “undefiled” (Heb. 7:26). If Lot “vexed” his righteous soul by what he saw and heard in Sodom when he was so far from God morally (2 Peter 2:7-8), what must the Lord have suffered when He passed through such a world as this!"
From Sufferings of Christ
"Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed."
Isaiah 53:4-5
Photo by eberhard grossgasteiger on Unsplash (edited in LunaPic)