Week #3: Crowned with Thorns: The Son of God on the Cross
Blog Series Intention Recap
This series explores two titles Yeshua (Jesus) used—and others used of Him—“Son of God” and “Son of Man.” Both reveal vital aspects of His mission, identity, and relationship with the Father and with humanity. Through the Synoptic Gospels, we learn how Yeshua (Jesus) embraced divine authority while walking fully among us in suffering and service. These titles are not abstract theological concepts; they are deeply woven into the fabric of Yeshua’s (Jesus) words, works, and ways. By studying them closely, we gain a clearer picture of who He is and what it means to follow Him.
This page is a post in the series “Son of God, Son of Man: Understanding the Identity of Yeshua (Jesus) in the Gospels.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.
Let’s jump into Week #3:
Power and Passion: The Son of God on the Cross… Yeshua’s (Jesus) death on the cross is not the defeat of the Son of God—it is the moment His identity is confirmed. In the Synoptic Gospels, the crucifixion reveals the depth of His obedience to the Father and the breadth of His love for humanity. The cross is both the place of suffering and the stage of divine revelation.
Why it Matters:
Yeshua’s (Jesus) divine identity is affirmed, not denied, at the cross.
The crucifixion is the ultimate display of obedience, love, and power.
Both Gentiles and Jewish leaders respond to Jesus’s claims with rejection—but some with faith.
The cross challenges us to see glory through suffering and to follow Yeshua (Jesus) in self-denial.
Go Deeper:
Scripture Focus:
Mocked for the Title He Rightly Bears
As Yeshua (Jesus) is crucified, He is taunted with the very titles that reveal His identity.
“If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross” (Matthew 27:40).
These words echo the temptation in the wilderness, where Satan also challenged, “If you are the Son of God…” (Matthew 4:3, 6). But Yeshua (Jesus) doesn’t come down. His silence is not weakness; it is victory. He does not need to prove His Sonship by power displays. He proves it by obedience.
The religious leaders and soldiers think they are ridiculing a false prophet. In reality, they are fulfilling God’s redemptive plan. Their mockery becomes ironic testimony—unwittingly pointing to the truth of who Yeshua (Jesus) is.
The Divine Son Submits to the Father’s Will
In Luke 22:70, during His trial before the Sanhedrin, Yeshua (Jesus) is asked,
“Are you the Son of God, then?”
He replies, “You say that I am.”
This response may seem vague, but it is legally loaded. Yeshua (Jesus) affirms His divine identity, knowing it will seal His death. He willingly walks into the suffering that had been foretold in Scripture. The Son of God does not cling to comfort or grasp for safety. He lays down His life in complete submission to the Father.
This obedience fulfills Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22. The sinless One bears the guilt of the many. The cross is not accidental—it is central.
A Roman Centurion Sees What Others Miss
At the climax of the crucifixion, something unexpected happens. After the darkness, the torn veil, and the earthquake, a Gentile soldier proclaims,
“Truly this man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39).
This confession is stunning. While Israel’s leaders reject Yeshua (Jesus) and His own disciples scatter, a Roman outsider recognizes what others missed. This echoes the theme of the Synoptic Gospels: God’s kingdom is revealed to the lowly, the outsider, and the unlikely.
The centurion’s declaration affirms that Yeshua’s (Jesus) identity is most clearly seen in His sacrificial death. He doesn't see Jesus call down angels or destroy His enemies. He sees Him breathe His last—and worships.
Glory Through the Cross, Not Apart from It
To modern minds, crucifixion is a tragic ending. But in the Gospels, it is the turning point of redemptive history. Yeshua’s (Jesus) passion (His suffering) is His enthronement.
The crown of thorns becomes a crown of glory.
The cross becomes the throne of the King.
The broken body becomes the bread of life for the world.
Yeshua’s (Jesus) identity as the Son of God is not set aside in death—it is revealed through it.
How does this help me understand, “Son of God, Son of Man: Understanding the Identity of Jesus in the Gospels?”
The Cross Reveals the Character of God
If you want to know what God is like, look at Yeshua (Jesus) on the cross. This is how the Son of God loves. This is how He obeys. This is how He saves.
The Father did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all (Romans 8:32). At the cross, we see holiness and mercy, justice and grace—all at once.
The Cross Calls for Our Allegiance
Yeshua (Jesus) didn’t die for admiration. He died to win hearts and claim lives. His cross demands a response: Will you follow the crucified Son? Will you trust Him even when the path includes suffering?
To confess, “Jesus (Yeshua) is the Son of God” (1 John 4:15) is to bow your knee, surrender your pride, and embrace a life of faithful discipleship.
Suffering Does Not Mean Separation
The Son of God suffered, yet He was not abandoned. Even when Yeshua (Jesus) cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46), He was fulfilling Scripture and bearing our curse. His cry makes room for ours.
Your suffering does not mean God has left you. If the cross teaches anything, it’s that love runs deepest when pain is greatest. In quoting from Psalm 22, Yeshua (Jesus) points us to God and how he works on behalf of his chosen. In Psalm 22:24, the Psalmist points out the fact that God does not abandon or despise those in affliction. He hears and helps them.
The Cross Prepares Us for Resurrection
Death was not the end for Yeshua (Jesus), and it won’t be the end for those who are in Him. The Son of God laid down His life so He could take it up again (John 10:18). The cross leads to the empty tomb. That same pattern holds for all who follow Him.
How do I apply this to my life?
The cross is not a symbol of defeat, but of divine glory. Yeshua (Jesus), the Son of God, gave His life not only to forgive your sin but to reveal the heart of God. Trust Him when He seems silent. Follow Him when the road is hard. Worship Him—not just for His power, but for His sacrifice.
Matthew 27:27–54 – Trace the events of the crucifixion through the lens of divine irony.
Luke 22–23 – Watch how Yeshua (Jesus) affirms His identity even under pressure.
Mark 15 – Reflect on the centurion’s confession in the middle of chaos.
Take some practical steps:
See the Cross as the Revelation of God’s Character -At the cross, we don’t just see what Yeshua (Jesus) did—we see who God is. The Son of God reveals divine mercy, justice, and love in His suffering. Let the cross shape your understanding of God’s nature: holy enough to judge sin, loving enough to bear it Himself.
Trust Jesus When You Don’t Understand the Silence - Yeshua (Jesus) didn’t come down from the cross to prove His identity; He stayed to fulfill His mission. When God seems silent in your pain, remember that silence does not mean absence. Trust the Son of God who obeyed in the dark so you could live in the light.
Respond to the Cross with Worship and Surrender - The Roman centurion worshiped at the foot of the cross, confessing, “Truly this man was the Son of God.” We are invited to respond the same way—with reverent confession, humble worship, and full surrender to Yeshua’s (Jesus) lordship.
Follow the Crucified Christ with Daily Obedience - If Yeshua (Jesus) is the Son of God, then His call to deny ourselves and take up our cross is not optional—it’s essential (Luke 9:23). Faith in the crucified Son leads to a cruciform life: one shaped by obedience, sacrifice, and steadfast love for others.
