"And was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried"
І was crucified — a sacrifice of love
The sacrifice of Christ the Savior on the Cross is a manifestation of the highest Divine love.
As the Holy Scripture says: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The Lord Jesus Christ Himself speaks of His sacrifice on the cross as follows:
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
And these friends are you and I, all of God's children.
Crucifixion was the most painful and shameful form of execution in the Roman Empire. A person could hang on the cross for many hours, slowly losing strength and life. This is the death that Christ accepted. He was crucified during the reign of the Roman governor in Judea, Pontius Pilate. The mention of Pilate in the Creed emphasizes that this is a historical event, not a fiction or myth.
Many non-Christians wonder: why do we wear a cross around our necks, baptize ourselves, crown the domes of churches with it, and pray before it?
After all, they say, they executed your God on it.
But that's why for us The cross is a shrine.
Because he constantly reminds: what great sacrifice was offered for our salvation, and how deep is God's love for man.
God not only created us and cares for us.
He is ready to give his life for us, sinful and unworthy.
God goes to the cross to become a sacrifice for our sins—and thereby free us from sin and eternal death.
God created the world with just spiritual and physical laws. One of those laws is that sin has consequences.
There must be punishment for sin.
The punishment for humanity's sin is eternal death.
“Whatever a man is sowing, this he will also reap.” (Gal. 6:7)
Sins became so numerous that humanity could no longer independently escape the abyss of evil. So the punishment that people should have suffered is taken upon Himself by the Lord Himself.
“The chastisement that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:5), says the prophet Isaiah.
To better understand the essence of this sacrifice, let's imagine the following:
A young man, barely a teenager, commits a crime. He faces severe punishment - long years in prison, perhaps even the death penalty.
But his father was there with him. And the father, realizing that his son would not survive, that his life would be destroyed, made a heroic decision:
He, although innocent, takes upon himself the guilt of his son and bears the punishment for him.
By doing so, he saves the child from death, gives her a chance at life — and sets an example of the highest love and self-sacrifice.
Likewise, Christ on the cross saves us, His children, by taking upon Himself the punishment we deserve.
In Christian theology, Christ is called the New (or Second) Adam.
Why?
Because we all, by human nature, descend from our forefather Adam.
He sinned and lost his original grace.
Because of his fall, human nature was distorted, and disease, suffering, and death entered the world.
We are descendants of sinful Adam, we have inherited a nature wounded by sin.
But the New Adam—Christ—comes into the world.
He lives without sin, overcomes temptations, gives His life on the cross, and is resurrected, opening the way to a new life.
Now, everyone who is born in Christ—through baptism, faith, and a life of grace—becomes a new creation.
He walks the path of Christ, crucifying his “flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal. 5:24)
— and inherits eternal life with Christ.
About us
This is the central word of this prayer of faith. Christ died not for his own guilt, but in our place, out of love for us, to free us from sin and death. Saint Gregory the Theologian: "He who had no sin became a sacrifice for us sinners, that we might become holy."
under Pontius Pilate
Why is the Roman governor mentioned in the prayer? вTo emphasize: this actually happened, in a specific place and time. Jesus' death is not a symbol, not a myth, but an event that changed the history of mankind.
Catechism of the UGCC (p. 181):
"The mention of Pilate points to the reality of salvation — it has taken place in our world, in history, among people."
and suffered — full participation in human destiny
Jesus suffers not from the outside, but from the inside. He experiences fear, pain, betrayal, humiliation - everything that we also experience. But he does not lose trust in the Father. His suffering is medicine for humanity.
Saint Athanasius:
"The sufferings of Him who knew no sin purify the soul of everyone who comes to Him with faith."
and was buried
Jesus was truly dead. His body was placed in a tomb, and his soul descended into the depths of hell to lead out all who were waiting for deliverance.
This is the fullness of humiliation, but at the same time, the beginning of resurrection.
