The Ones That Stood By
The characters that took part in Jesus’ crucifixion are of great interest to me. In a general sense, every crowd is the same. People sort themselves into groups and patterns that are universal and so it is with the masses that came to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover this particular spring. I often wonder how I would’ve fit into the scene had I lived that moment and place in time. Honestly, I’m not sure, but reflecting makes me determined to live forward with greater focus and purpose.
A very diverse group gathered to witness this act of capital punishment that fulfilled Old Testament prophecy and took the power of death away from satan. Jesus’ twelve disciples, except for John, entrusted with the care of Mary, Jesus’ mother, were hiding in the shadows filled with fear and confusion. Roman soldiers mindlessly followed orders, but added their own twist of hatred by stripping Jesus naked, weaving a wreath of thorns and gambling for His clothing. Jewish officials, rigorously trained and formally educated, mixed just enough truth with just enough fallacy, to get their desired response from Rome’s authority. Two thieves completed the execution roster. One humbled himself and found hope everlasting, the other remained belligerent to the end. Jesus’ mother, along with her friends, stood boldly, stoic and loyal, looking far beyond the cross and the present situation. Finally there were the masses, lost faces in the annals of history. Within the masses there were those shouting, throwing things, spitting, swept up in a fever of self-righteous indignation. There were the curious and probably some that thought Jesus’ death was inappropriate but it didn’t effect their life so they separated themselves emotionally and remained quiet. AND maybe, just maybe there were those that stood back and said, “He got what He had coming.” “He got what He deserved!”
They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. John 16:2
I can place myself in the behaviors and attitudes of everyone in the assembly at the cross, after all, I am a former sinner now saved by grace. But those that thought, “He got what He had coming,” are the ones I struggle with the most. I have aimed darts at the hearts of others, poisoned with this horrible venom of judgement and scorn, deliberately withholding compassion. In doing so I placed myself in a sinful role. God alone reserves the right to judge.
Jesus, blameless and pure, died for the sins we committed, not His own. Therefore, He took what we deserved, what we had coming. It was the greatest love ever shown.
Sometimes we hide from the world, fearful and faithless. In ignorance we mock and abuse those that Christ loves. We rewrite truth to our own advantage or remain quiet when we should speak up. Still, like the thief, salvation is freely offered. We must lay down our lives at the cross, arise and look beyond to the Throne of God to the world that Jesus loves and the hope that He died to give.
Everyday we awake in a crowd called mankind. What role will we play? I encourage you to lead with love and spread the Good News.
Blessings,
Gretchen