What Really Happened at Calvary?

What happened at Calvary two thousand years ago when Jesus was crucified? Muslims will argue that Judas was crucified by mistake instead of Jesus. An atheist might suggest that a man, though a good teacher, died. A Christian would affirm that Jesus was crucified; the Son of God died for us; several miracles took place, such as, the veil rent in two, earthquake, and three hours of darkness; one of the thieves on a cross next to Jesus was promised paradise with Jesus that very day; and some might mention the seven sayings on the cross which Jesus spoke while enduring crucifixion. The day represents the darkest hour in human history. The cost of man’s sin reached its highest pinnacle. The innocent Son of God was killed by both Jews and Gentiles. Many world shaking and history altering events took place. For the next few minutes consider ten things which happened at Calvary that changed the world for you and me.

#1 Prophecies Fulfilled

Did you know that Jesus fulfilled twenty-seven Messianic Prophecies in one day? These are just a few of some of the three hundred plus Messianic prophecies that He has fulfilled through His birth, life, and resurrection. Mathematically speaking, the odds of one person fulfilling only 8 of these prophecies is 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000. One person fulfilling 48 prophecies has 1 chance in 10 to the 157th power. And one person fulfilling 300+ prophecies: one and only Son of God, Jesus. Many of these prophecies could not have been fulfilled by Jesus or by His disciples by their own efforts. For example, the amount of money paid for His betrayal and the ultimate use of the money to buy a burial plot for his betrayer (Zech. 11:12; Matt. 26:14-15 and Zech. 11:13; Matt. 27:3-10). The piercing of his side after His death (Zech. 12:10; John 19:34). As well as being buried in a tomb of a rich man (Isa 53:9; Mat 27:57-60).

#2 Satan Was Bruised

After the Devil deceived Eve and she partook of the forbidden fruit, God cursed Satan in the first Messianic prophecy. God said, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Gen. 3:15). Jesus, being born of a virgin, was the only man who was exclusively the biological offspring of a woman. The bruising of His head by Satan is the crucifixion and the crushing blow to the Devil’s head was Jesus’ resurrection.

#3 Sacrifice Was Made

The Hebrew writer affirms that apart from the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission” (Heb. 9:22). The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). The blood of Christ did not just flow forward covering the sins of those of the Christian age, but it flowed backwards covering all the sacrifices for sin all the way back to Eden. “And for this reason, He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance” (Heb. 9:15). His sacrifice has needed only to be made once and never repeated. “So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Heb. 9:28).

#4 Substitute Took Our Place

All who sin are worthy of death “for the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). But Jesus was to “taste death for every man” (Heb. 2:9). His death was not for His sin but a vicarious death for us (see Is. 53:5-6; 53:10).

#5 Removal Of The Old Testament

Jesus came to fulfill the Law and “having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Col. 2:14). The Law is no longer needed. Jesus the perfect Lawgiver, Savior, Sacrifice, High Priest, etc. has come and died and arose.

#6 Dedication Of New Testament

When instituting the Lord’s Supper, the Lord said of the fruit of the vine, “This is my blood of the covenant…” (Matt. 26:28). “And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death,…For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives” (Heb. 9:15-18).

#7 Purchasing Price Paid For The Church

Jesus is not just the builder, head, bridegroom, chief cornerstone, etc., He paid the purchasing price for the church. Paul told the elders of Ephesus, “therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). No other man would have been able to pay the price and only the Son of God could shed His innocent blood.

#8 Start Of The Last Days

After Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension into Heaven, Peter explained on the day of Pentecost “but this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God” (Acts 2:16-17). Again, the Hebrew writer explains that God “has in these last days spoken to us by His Son” (Heb. 1:2). The Patriarchal and Mosaical ages have passed we are now in the last days: the Christian age. This is the last age of mankind from God’s standpoint until Christ comes again and the world ends.

#9 Demonstration Of God’s Love

At Calvary, Jesus paid the highest price possible to give me the greatest gift possible. God was motivated to send His Son out of His great love for us “for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16). Christ came to the cross out of His love for us. He said to His disciples, “greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13).

#10 Ransom Paid

Every man who sins, and all do (Rom. 3:23), are under death and enslaved to sin. No man can pay the redemption price. Christ was able and willing to pay it all to ransom from death all who have obedient, faith. Jesus said the sacrificing of His life, “no one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father” (John 10:18). Paul wrote, “the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Tim. 2:5-6).

Jesus lived a busy short life between 33-34 years. The busiest day of His life was perhaps the day of His death. With Jesus you can have the busiest day of your life. You can hear the Gospel evidence, believe Jesus to be the resurrected Son of God, repent of your sins, confess Jesus before men, and be baptized into water in the likeness of Christ death, burial and resurrection. When baptized, your sin will be washed away, you will be reconciled to God, redeemed by Jesus’ blood, forgiven or your sins, sealed by the Holy Spirit, adopted as a born-again child into the family of God, added to the church becoming a citizen of the Kingdom, sanctified, justified and saved. You can have a busy day with Jesus starting a new life, because He had the busiest day ending His life.

– Daniel R. Vess