Why did Jesus die in such a horrific way?

[mooselips]

I happen to change the T.V. channel last night, and watched “The Passion of Christ” by Mel Gibson. I am assuming the way Jesus was tormented and crucified is true.

Which led me to wonder:
Why did God choose (did God Choose?) such a horrific way for Jesus to die for our sins?
It seems that a lesser form of punishment could have made the point, No?

Remember I’m a beginning Catholic here, full of questions…

Thank you,
Diane

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

Actually, Jesus did not HAVE to die in such a horrific way. He could have redeemed us by merely willing it. But that would not have communicated much of what it means to be loved by a God whose love is limitless. To intellectually know this would remain simply and abstraction for us since none of us has ever experienced anything that is limitless. But we do have experience of both mental and physical pain.

The movie actually softens the extent that He suffered. For example, it shows more of His blood on the floor than on His body. It doesn’t portray His body bathed in blood as it very much was.

That God would choose to endure what He endured for our benefit gives us some idea of how extensive His love is—and how impossible it is to wrap our feeble minds around it.
I’ll end you privately a reflection on the passion.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.