Jesus was crucified because of a cascading series of bad decisions, personal weakness and petty concerns that spiraled out of control. The chief priests and Pharisees felt threatened by Jesus' popularity, especially when he pointed out their flaws and hypocrisies in front of the people. The best they could do was drum up charges of blasphemy and accuse him of false kingship, which the Romans regarded as treason against Caesar.

Still, if one studies the gospels, nowhere does Jesus directly claim that he is a king. When asked about that charge, Jesus would simply say, "It is you who say that I am a king." (John 18:37)

There was no legitimate case against Jesus. Pontius Pilate even said as much: "What wrong is this man guilty of? I have not discovered anything about him that calls for the death penalty." (Luke 23:22)

But Pilate lacked the courage and integrity to do the right thing. He even tried to pass the buck by sending Jesus to Herod who, frustrated with Jesus' silence, promptly sent him back to the Roman procurator.

Things became even more complicated when Barabbas entered the picture with his band of insurrectionists, who were loudly vocal in support of their leader's Passover release. The gospels don't offer much detail, but it is my opinion that the tide of public opinion turned against Jesus because it was colored by the insurrectionists, who saw in the Nazarene an opportunity to promote their own anti-Rome agenda.

The scene outside the praetorium must have been so volatile that Pilate had no choice but to issue the decree for crucifixion, lest he have a riot on his hands. And if crucifixion seems a harsh punishment for an ambiguous case, consider that the two men crucified with Jesus were condemned simply because of thievery. The Romans' best tool in subjugating their empire was fear. If even petty crimes were punishable by this tortuous form of execution then most people would think twice before breaking the law.

An innocent man was wrongly accused and sentenced to death. That this man was the Son of God adds more poignancy to the drama. Jesus' only "agenda," if one wants to call it that, was to proclaim the Kingdom of God. And, from the cross, this message of love: "Father, forgive them . . ."

Death is the ultimate consequence of sin. Through his death, Jesus took upon himself all our sins and opened for us the way to eternal life. On Good Friday, when I contemplate the horror of Jesus' messy death, I am moved to tears for all that he suffered — and for the magnificent greatness of his love.

Crucified, laid behind the stone,
you lived to die, rejected and alone.
Like a rose trampled on the ground,
you took the fall and thought of me
above all.