As we approach Easter, we naturally turn our attention to the cross—to that central, sacred moment in history when Jesus gave his life for the world. But if we’ve grown up in church, there’s a danger that we hear the words “Jesus died for my sins” and think we’ve already mined the depths. This Easter season, let’s press in a little further. Let’s ask: What really happened on the cross? What does Scripture say Jesus accomplished? And why does it matter for us today?
In a recent teaching at our church, we explored the richness of the atonement—the theological term for how Jesus makes us “at-one” with God and one another. This word atonement ultimately means reconciliation. The cross is about restoring what was broken: humanity’s relationship with God, and our relationships with one another.
But how does that work? How does the cross achieve reconciliation?
Christians throughout history have explored multiple interpretations or “facets” of the cross. Sometimes these are called “theories,” but don’t let that word mislead you. These aren’t speculative guesses—they’re scripturally grounded, historically rooted attempts to articulate a divine mystery. Like light through a diamond, each angle gives us a new glimpse of glory.
Here are three of the most influential perspectives we discussed:
1. Penal Substitution: Jesus Took Our Place
This is the view most familiar in Protestant churches, especially in the West. It teaches that Jesus bore the punishment for sin that we deserved. God’s justice demands that sin be dealt with—but in love, God himself took that penalty. Jesus voluntarily suffered in our place, satisfying divine justice so we could be forgiven.
Scripture supports this clearly:
- “He was pierced for our transgressions…” (Isaiah 53)
- “God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us…” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
- “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement…” (Romans 3:25)
This view captures the gravity of sin and the holiness of God, showing us both the seriousness of judgment and the depth of grace.
But here’s the caution: If we reduce the gospel to a transaction—“I said the prayer, so I’m good”—we risk missing the relational and transformative nature of salvation. Jesus didn’t just deal with sin’s guilt; he also broke sin’s power.
2. Christus Victor: Jesus Defeated Evil
This is one of the oldest understandings of the atonement and one especially emphasized in the Eastern Church. It centers on victory. On the cross, Jesus defeated the powers of sin, death, and the devil. He didn’t just pardon us—he triumphed over the spiritual forces that enslaved us.
Think about how Jesus is portrayed in the Gospels: not just as a suffering servant, but as a conquering king. He wears a crown—even if it’s made of thorns—and the inscription above his head doesn’t read “Priest of the Jews” but “King of the Jews.”
Key scriptures include:
- “He disarmed the powers and authorities and made a public spectacle of them…” (Colossians 2:15)
- “Through death he destroyed the one who has the power of death…” (Hebrews 2:14)
- “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8)
Christus Victor shows us that Jesus didn’t just rescue individuals—he launched a new creation. His resurrection is not just proof of forgiveness, but the first day of a new world.
3. Ransom: Jesus Paid the Price to Set Us Free
Another ancient view, the ransom theory sees Jesus’ death as a ransom paid to liberate humanity from bondage. It’s the story C.S. Lewis captured in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, when Aslan offers himself in place of Edmund.
Jesus himself said, “The Son of Man came…to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
While this view overlaps with Christus Victor, it emphasizes exchange—Jesus gives his life in place of ours to free us from captivity. Critics worry it sounds like God is negotiating with Satan (which isn’t quite biblical), but when properly understood, it highlights the cost of redemption and the depth of divine love.
A Mystery with Many Facets
All these perspectives—penal substitution, Christus Victor, ransom, and others like moral influence and recapitulation—are not competing as much as they are complementary. They offer different angles on the same breathtaking reality: God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself. (2 Corinthians 5:19)
So this Easter, when you look to the cross, don’t settle for one lens. Ask the Spirit to deepen your understanding and widen your heart. Salvation is more than a legal pardon. It’s more than a personal ticket to heaven. It is liberation, transformation, reconciliation, and renewal—personal and cosmic, historical and eternal.
And most of all, it’s a love story.
“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)
