So it is the sight of the Son of God nailed alive on the Tree of Calvary – and all out of love for us – it is that which melts the stony hearts of sinners and drives them to their knees in humility and penitence and shame.

And when that happens the Crucifixion ceases to be merely an event in history and becomes something acutely personal, as it was to St Paul: “…the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (RSV, Galatians 2:20, our emphasis) – and who still loves me and still offers himself once crucified to his Father for me.