[June 27, 2026] One of the advantages of targeted self-education is to know who to listen to, who can narrate a good story, and who makes sense out of a confusing world. And that is exactly what Dr. Jordan Peterson has done in a video titled The Most Tragic Story Ever Told.
If you’re Christian, you know exactly where Dr. Peterson is going with the story of Christ. Imagine in your mind how much it takes to endure the pending punishment that Christ will endure.
“You cannot write a more tragic story. It’s impossible. Why?”
This is the point that Dr. Peterson excels with his description of the tragedy of the crucifixion.
“There was no death more painful than crucifixion. That’s why the Romans invented it. To punish political miscreants. The slow, agonizing death was extraordinarily painful.”
It gets more interesting. And here is the core of the tragedy.
Plus, you know it’s coming, and that’s part of the story.
Plus, your best friend betrayed you into it.
Plus, your people turned against you.
Plus, they’re led by a tyrant who doubts the truth.
Plus, you’re a victim of the Roman Empire.
Plus, you’re completely innocent.
Plus, everybody knows it.
Plus, they choose a criminal to be released from this experience, instead of you, even though they know he’s a criminal and they know you’re innocent.
What could be worse? What could anyone experience that could be even worse?
“And, you’re young and you’ve done no wrong and all you’ve done is help people. So then you think, what are we doing? You’re supposed to visit the stations of the cross. What do you see? Do you see death? Do you see destruction? Pain? Terror? Tyranny? Frailty? Betrayal? Look harder. What do you see? The death and the resurrection. If you look far enough into the abyss, you see the light.”
This is the best rendition of why Christ’s crucifixion was such a tragedy. More than the loss of a teacher, mentor, leader, and good man. More than what we can imagine in our limited thinking. Dr. Peterson has done well with his description.
Dr. Peterson masterfully reveals the crucifixion as the ultimate tragedy—innocence betrayed, suffering foreseen and inflicted—yet points to its transcendent light: resurrection amid the abyss. This narrative not only deepens Christian understanding but equips us to confront life’s deepest pains with meaning and hope.
Highly recommended. View it on YouTube (link here); a short 59 seconds.
————
Please read my books:
Gen. Satterfield, thanks for highlighting this for us. Today’s “too busy to care” culture is headed in the wrong direction. We can see it everywhere and especially in politics when you get people there who condone violence. We see that mostly in the Democrat Party; the party of hate and violence.
Yep, facts. 🙏 Pray for those who have to be raised under those conditions.
This is the quote that I found best. And this is classic Dr. Peterson. I can appreciate how he is able to take what we have all know for ages, and put it into different words that actually make sense. He is a little over-the-top dramatic but I get it. Gen. Satterfield here, lays it out plainly for us all to see and he makes it possible for us to learn more about how Dr. P thinks:
Plus, you know it’s coming, and that’s part of the story.
Plus, your best friend betrayed you into it.
Plus, your people turned against you.
Plus, they’re led by a tyrant who doubts the truth.
Plus, you’re a victim of the Roman Empire.
Plus, you’re completely innocent.
Plus, everybody knows it.
Plus, they choose a criminal to be released from this experience, instead of you, even though they know he’s a criminal and they know you’re innocent.
Sir, I do think you’re right (rather, Dr. Jordan Peterson) about this being the most tragic story ever told. But one thing I will note, and I’m not original in this thinking, is that Jesus did not say that he was a “victim,” much like the snowflakes on the political left these days. Please keep on giving us these kind of insightful articles. I see that JT Patterson linked to your book “55 rules for a good life” and that is good. I love the book, keep it on my desk, and for a quick hit for the day, i pick it up, flip to a random page, and read one of your 55 “rules.” I know these are ancient, repeatedly proven rules that will make us better as humans. More folks should read your book. But I also will note that while many point to it, your older book “Our Longest Year in Iraq” is worth a good read too. Have a great day sir.
Wesley, thanks for giving us your appropriate and rightful thinking on this article. Yes, a hint of what Dr. Jordan Peterson gives us. A simple way of thinking about the world.
Exactly the right question, “What could be worse? What could anyone experience that could be even worse?” – Gen. Doug Satterfield. I will add that although the Bible is the greatest text ever written, you still might want to get Gen. S’s book “55 rules for a good life” right here: https://www.amazon.com/55-Rules-Good-Life-Responsibility/dp/1737915529/
Wow, nice!!!!!!!
If anyone was to think of the Bible, and what is in it that is the most dramatic parts, those that are a true revelation of being, and considering all the parts of it that point to the most fantastic lessons ever learned, indeed, this story of the crucifixion and resurrection would be the number one story. I know that Dr. Peterson – highlighted here by Gen. Satterfield – lays it out beautifully. And that is a good way to begin to look at our own lives and see what went wrong and that we took that too seriously, but learned later that life was going to get much much better soon. And this is the way of human existance. Thank you, Gen. Satterfield your this short but powerful article about Jesus.
Indeed … I would also acknowledge that this is the greatest story ever told. The crucifixion and resurrection is the tragedy and enlightenment showing us how we can go from the worst of the worst to the best of the best. We should be humble as we look to our own lives to see what happened here to Christ. There will always be the naysayers who will claim the story is untrue, that it never happened, and therefore the Bible is meaningless. But the Bible and the included stories, and especially this story, are a culmination of all human wisdom accumulated, and the ancient were damn smart. I hope to learn more stories here in Gen. Satterfield’s pages, on this blog. I also listen often to Dr. Jordan Peterson and what he has to say about Christianity and the greatest stories ever told. 🙏
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16. A profound statement of God’s love and the promise of salvation.
John 3:16 captures God’s sacrificial love central to the article’s tragic crucifixion narrative. It explains why Christ endured betrayal and agony. The verse promises eternal life through belief amid ultimate suffering. Peterson highlights the foreseen pain and innocence. Yet John 3:16 reveals divine purpose beyond tragedy. God’s love motivated giving His Son for the world. This counters the abyss with resurrection hope. Belief transforms personal betrayals into salvation. The article’s story underscores redemption’s cost. Eternal life fulfills the promise in Christ’s death. Faith turns tragedy into profound victory.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Five star review, Army Captain.