At the Cross
We read of Him: “And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matthew 7:28-29). When soldiers were sent to arrest Jesus and they came back empty-handed, they were asked: “Why have you not brought Him?” The only excuse they could come up with was, “No man ever spoke like this Man!” (John 7:45-46). Even His own disciples were often confounded by Jesus.
Yes, Jesus was different. While thousands cheered Him on, others campaigned for His death. Jesus showed little concern for public opinion, however. His concern was to fulfill the will of the Father. Everything else was secondary. His love stood in stark contrast to the legalism and hatred of many of the religious leaders. In the end, His enemies managed to condemn Him to a horrible death on a Roman cross.
Simon Brings Relief
John reports that Jesus carried His cross to Calvary. However, Matthew and Luke tell us that Simon of Cyrene was commanded to carry the cross for Him. Whatever the case may be, we can assume that Jesus initially bore its weight. When He could no longer bear it, Simon, who was visiting Jerusalem from Cyrene in North Africa and was the father of Alexander and Rufus, was commanded to carry it. It would be interesting to know what Simon thought of this. Did he know Jesus of Nazareth? Was he sympathetic to His cause? Was he willing because of Jesus, or because he was coerced by the soldiers?
Carrying a cross is never easy. There are people today who grumble and complain when they are required to carry a burden for Jesus’ sake. Does that describe you as well? Or do you see it as a blessed privilege to carry a cross for His sake? To carry someone else’s burden can brings us either blessing or bitterness. Happy are those who gladly volunteer to carry a cross for Jesus’ sake.
The Sorrow of a Mother
Mary, the mother of Jesus, was present at the crucifixion. How did she react? Who could possibly suffer more than a mother who sees her child subjected to pain and hardship? When she pushed her way to the cross on that fateful day, what thoughts may have possessed her mind? She may have been thinking about the extraordinary circumstances that surrounded the birth of her son. Perhaps she retraced in her mind the journey she and Joseph took with their twelve-year-old Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem. There, in His Father’s house, He had taught the teachers! Maybe she thought of all the miracles and healing that she witnessed during the years of His public ministry.
But what was Mary thinking about Jesus now? Had she accepted Him as the Messiah? Was she able to grasp why He, the Son of God, had to die, why He had to suffer such a despicable death? Until her dying day, Mary will have praised God that she had the exquisite privilege to carry Jesus under her heart; that she had been able to care for Him, and raise Him from infancy, through childhood and on to adulthood.
Two Criminals—Two Attitudes
That day, two other men were crucified, one on either side of Jesus. Various translations refer to these men as robbers, bandits, evil-doers, or criminals. Initially, these men regarded Jesus as just another unfortunate transgressor of the law who was suffering his deserved punishment. So, they joined those who tortured Jesus and mocked and ridiculed Him. We read in Luke 23:39-43: “Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, ‘If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.’ But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’”
Strange, how two men in the same predicament were free to make a choice: One chose eternal death, the other eternal life.
Where Were the Disciples?
The disciples must certainly have witnessed the crucifixion as well. How did they react? John was there, comforting Mary, Jesus’ mother. Judas Iscariot had committed suicide. Where were all the rest? We read in Luke 23:49 “But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.” How Jesus could have used his friends’ support in this moment! How He must have longed for a comforting word from them. How disappointed the disciples must have been in their behavior in the subsequent days. If only they would have mustered more courage and loyalty. If only they had taken the right stand at the cross.
What Is Your Stand?
Had you and I lived in those days and in that place, would we have behaved any differently? Indeed, what stand are we taking today? Are we concerned only about our public persona? Do we run with the crowd? Do we follow from afar? Are we silent when we should speak up? Do we complain when a cross is placed on our delicate shoulders—even if it’s just for a moment? Genuine followers of Jesus stick with Him even unto death. They see it as true joy to be able to suffer with their Savior. They consider it a high honor to stand unshakable underneath His cross.
We live in a time of unparalleled comfort. It is an era of individualism and narcissism where little thought is expended on behalf of others. It is high time to decide on which side of the cross we will take our stand. Shall we, like the one criminal, hurl brash accusations at Jesus, or will we, like the other one, ask the Savior to remember us in grace, and thereby experience eternity at His side?
Jesus Christ is re-crucified every day and in every place. Do you stand by without opening your mouth or lifting your hand in His defense, thereby admitting free course to the evil around you? Or does the entire world know that you belong to Jesus and are willing to stand with Him, ready to stay there without asking what the consequences may bring you?
Dale Oldham
(1903-1984)
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