Jesus is nailed to the cross

James Jacques Tissot – The First Nail (Le premier clou) (1884-1896), Brooklyn Museum, New York

The people thought that Jesus was powerless and his ministry ended in failure when he was nailed to the cross.

Luke 24:17-21 NLT
He asked them (the disciples on the road to Emmaus),
What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?
They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied,
You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.
What things? Jesus asked.
The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth. 
He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people.
But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him.
We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel.
This all happened three days ago. 

But …

 John 12:23-24,27-28A NLT
Jesus replied,
Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory.
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone.
But its death will produce many new kernels – a plentiful harvest of new lives.
Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’?
But this is the very reason I came!  Father, bring glory to your name.

We can hope because Jesus allowed the authorities to crucify him.
His glory was shown in his sacrificial and willing death.