What Happened at Calvary?

Calvary: Earth's greatest tragedy! Heaven's greatest triumph! --Adrian Rogers

It seems to me that there has been an increase in the highlighting of Christ’s physical suffering at Calvary. This is not a bad thing—after all, the Gospel writers devoted attention to the physical nature of what happened. For both the original audience and us, we are reminded that the Crucifixion is a historical event and that a real Jesus died on the Cross, rose from the dead, and ascended to the Heaven (Luke 22-24; Acts 1).
 
I fear, however, that in speaking so much of the physical aspect of what transpired on that Hill so long ago we lose sight of the spiritual truths at play. That’s what I want to focus on: 1) What happened at Calvary? 2) Why it still has bearing on our lives today.
 
In the interest of transparency, I’ve given a great deal of thought this year to what happened at Calvary and why it’s important today. As I have pondered these things, I am amazed that a tragedy-triumph can have so much bearing on us all these years removed—and that’s part of the beauty.
 
So, what happened at Calvary? In broad-brush strokes, Judgement, Forgiveness, and Redemption.

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