Tree Curse!

“If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God. (Deuteronomy 21:22-23)  Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), ... (Galatians 3:13)

In the movie "The Passion of The Chist" the movie director did an excellent job visually translating what's written in scripture about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  Jesus had committed no sin.  So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no fault in this Man.” (Luke 23:4) But the Jewish leaders continued promting the crowd, yelling "Crucify Him!" (Mark 15:14)

The text in Deuteronomy 21 explains the shame associated with being hung on a tree, thousands of years before this form of capital punishment was even used, which is estimated being 519BC.  It's prophecied in Psalms 22:18 exactly what Christ would go through at His crucifixion, and all four gospels record it.

Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken. [Psalm 34:20]” And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced. [Zechariah 12:10]" (John 19:31-37)

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. (John 15:13) No longer do I call you servants, ...; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. (John 15:15) There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus, no not one!

Consider watching "The Passion of The Christ": http://www.thepassionofchrist.com/skip.html