We read in John 19:17-18, He went out, carrying his cross, and came to "The Place of the Skull," as it is called. (In Hebrew it is called "Golgotha.") There they crucified him; and they also crucified two other men, one on each side, with Jesus between them. (GNB)
That day when Jesus was crucified on the cross, there were many people who stood there and witnessed that scene, but each of them had a different perspective. Even today those who look at the cross of Jesus do so with various mindsets. In this message as we meditate on these different groups of people who stood around the cross of Jesus, and analyze their attitudes or motives, I hope we too will be able to assess ourselves, to see where we stand.
1. The Roman Soldiers
The soldiers were just performing their duties
The first group that we observe are the Roman soldiers, who were simply carrying out the duties that was entrusted to them. They were not involved deeply in what was really happening, as they were more bothered about fulfilling their responsibilities to the Roman Government.
Even today there are many who attend church, as a religious duty, and thereby feel that by doing so they have fulfilled their obligation for the week. Every time we come together as a church, we must understand that we do so to worship our Almighty God, who watches over us, perceives our thoughts and is worthy of all our worship. When one attends church in a casual manner, they will not benefit from the fellowship, and will most often not even remember the word that was preached. There are those who hope that by fulfilling this duty of church going for an hour each week, that the Lord will take responsibility to watch over them, and bless them for the rest of the week. There are even some others who believe that they must step into the church, just in time to receive the final prayer and benediction, and are thereby good to go on for the rest of the week.
The experience of the Psalmist was different as we read in Psalm 122:1, I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the LORD's house.”(GNB)
We see that he Psalmist rejoiced at the thought of going to the house of the Lord.
Not many people today are joyful, and keen to be in the house of the Lord with fellow-believers. It is not enough to give lip-service to the Lord with our formal prayers, and have no intimate relationship with Him, on an on-going and personal level. When we do so, we are so much like the Roman soldiers who were unconcerned, and were content just performing their duties.
In another place the Psalmist says in Psalm 63:1-2, “O God, you are my God, and I long for you. My whole being desires you; like a dry, worn-out, and waterless land, my soul is thirsty for you. Let me see you in the sanctuary; let me see how mighty and glorious you are.” (GNB)
In the above mentioned verses the Psalmist describes his intimate relationship with God. He longs for God and his soul thirsts after God just as one would long for water when they feel thirsty. He discovered that his dry, worn-out and parched soul could find satisfaction in God’s sanctuary, for only there could he behold God’s glorious splendor and might.
We too must yearn to seek after the Lord, and thirst after Him as the Psalmist did. Let us ask God to stir in our hearts that deep longing to have that personal relationship with Him, and not to do things for the sake of duty. It will be totally erroneous on our part if we sought God only to have our personal or material needs met.
The soldiers divided Jesus’ garments amongst themselves
These Roman soldiers did yet another thing that day. We read in John 19:23-24, Now the soldiers, after they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, a part for each soldier, and the coat also. But the coat was seamless, woven in one piece from the top all the way throughout. For this reason, they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but let us cast lots for it to determine whose it shall be"; that the scripture might be fulfilled which says, "They divided My garments among them, and they cast lots for My vesture." The soldiers therefore did these things. (AFV)
The Roman soldiers who were at the foot of the cross of Jesus, coveted after those garments that were not theirs, and divided them amongst themselves. Even in those crucial hours when Jesus was dying on the cross, the only thought that was uppermost for these soldiers was, what they could personally gain from that situation.
In the Sermon on the Mount, these were the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.” (GNB)
The ones who hungers and thirsts for righteousness will long to be more and more like Jesus. It is only when we long for God this way, will we be truly satisfied, or else we will make our Christian life just a ritualistic one, and will merely be doing a duty, without a real relationship with the Lord Jesus. The cross of Jesus has the power to change and transform our lives, but if we like the soldiers are only duty bound, we will miss out on all that God has in store for us, being just satisfied with some material blessings only. May we be those who sincerely hunger and thirst after God and His righteousness, so that our souls will truly be appeased.
2. The Chief Priests and religious leaders
The religious leaders were envious of Jesus
We read in John 19:19-22, And Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross; and it was written, "Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews." As a result, many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Greek and in Latin. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews'; but that He said, 'I am King of the Jews.' "Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written." (AFV)
The Chief Priests were the religious leaders at the temple in Jesus’ day. These men were more concerned about their education, their position, their standing in society, and did everything they could to maintain them. No one could be in competition to them, and they only wanted their own followers or their children to be the ones to take up their position after them. Sadly, these religious leaders were primarily responsible for Jesus being crucified. Their reason for hating Jesus was that He was righteous, blameless and He was pointing out their faults, which they were unwilling to accept. As the multitudes began to put their faith in Jesus, these religious leaders were so agitated that they plotted to have Jesus arrested, and handed over to be crucified.
Pilate as the Governor then, after interrogating Jesus was fully aware that there was no fault in Jesus. However, Pilate was unable to have Jesus released as the crowds were in riot, and wanted Him crucified. Pilate therefore used his authority and had the inscription placed over the cross of Jesus declaring that He was ‘King of the Jews’. The religious leaders were so filled with envy that they could not bear the thought that Pilate had ordered for this inscription to be hung over the cross. They therefore appealed to Pilate to have it changed. Pilate however, was firm and would not let them change what he had already ordered to be written. These religious leaders could not put up with anyone who they thought was a threat to them, and if they came across such a person, they were even willing to have them killed, so they could retain their position in society.
There are so many who because of the positions they hold, and their reputation in society engage in all sorts of activities which are not pleasing to God. There are some people who speak proudly about their ancestors as being the founders of the church that they attend. Some bask in the fact that their forefathers built the church building that they are members of today. So many are holding on to these places and positions, unwilling to let go of them. We must take caution, as all these things are of no value in the eyes of God. We see that the religious leaders in Jesus’ day too gave importance to the wrong things, and thereby missed out on realizing who Jesus really was.
The religious leaders scorned Jesus
This was the response of these religious leaders as they saw Jesus hang gruesomely on the cross that day. We read in Mark 15:31, And in like manner the chief priests also were mocking with one another and with the scribes, saying, "He saved others, but He does not have the power to save Himself. (AFV)
As Jesus hung on that cross with utmost anguish and excruciating pain, his body bruised and broken, it is simply astounding that these religious leaders could still mock at Jesus, with no feeling of remorse whatsoever. As the sinless Son of God hung on that cross, Satan rejoiced and if the religious leaders too rejoiced at this sight, it makes us wonder who these men belonged to, who were serving in the temple.
In Romans 2:24, we read, “For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” (ERV)
The ones who are supposed to be leading the people towards Jesus, were standing around the cross mocking the Son of God. Here were a group of men who stood close to the cross, and did not comprehend the significance of the cross on which Jesus died. There are so may today who like these religious leaders wear the cross, but are unable to comprehend the sanctity of what happened on the cross that Jesus died.
3. The crowds that passed by
This was the response of the crowd that passed by as recorded in Mark 15:29-30, The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Ha! Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. (NLT)
Have discernment to make the right choices
These passersby were those who did not really understand all that was happening that day, but had no restraint to speak their thoughts. These crowds just joined in with the majority, though they had no clue or the sense to discern what was right or wrong.
There are a group of people like these crowds, who don’t really know all the facts, but are quick to pass judgement on any given situation. We must ask God for wisdom to discern between right and wrong, and be cautious to not join in with the majority. It is very important that we know all the facts so that we can make wise and informed decisions. There are many who have maligned the names of others simply because they joined in to speak, and spread false allegations about them. As children of God we must not be in association with these sort of people, but rather avoid them.
Use words with restraint
Here is a wise saying in Proverbs 10:19, In the multitude of words, sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise. (AFV)
We should be very cautious about the words that we speak. It is vital that we avoid engaging in unnecessary conversations that are not beneficial to others or will prove detrimental to them. If we don’t exercise this caution we will be led to sin in many ways. That is why the above mentioned verse clearly states that in the multitude of words, there will be every opportunity to sin in various ways.
4. The two criminals on either side of the cross
It is recorded in Matthew 27:38, “Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.” (ESV)
There were two men, criminals who were crucified along with Jesus on either side of Him. This was the response of one of those men who hung on one side of Jesus.
In Luke 23:42 we read, Then he said to Jesus, "Remember me, Lord, when You come into Your kingdom." (AFV)
Here were two men who were nailed to the cross, and were in the same predicament as Jesus was. While one man mocked at Jesus, the other one looked at Jesus, and realized that he was a sinner and Jesus righteous. He therefore prayed to Jesus that He be remembered when He came in His kingdom. There were many who trusted in Jesus because they saw the miracles that He performed or because of His teachings. However, this man only saw Jesus being crucified on the cross, just as He was, but he was able to recognize that Jesus was a King. He called out to Jesus addressing Him as Lord, the one who rules over all. This man understood that Jesus was King, and that His Kingdom was a heavenly one. He also realized that there was a life beyond this earthly one, and that if one had to be with God in that Kingdom, Jesus alone was the way. That is why he prayed to Jesus to remember him when He came with all His power in His heavenly Kingdom.
This was Jesus reply in Luke 23:43, And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (NLT)
This man received a wonderful response from Jesus. This man was repentant, humble and even at the point of death recognized who Jesus was, and that He could pardon him for the sins he had committed. Jesus gave him the assurance that he would most surely be with Him in paradise.
We are meditating in this message on all those people who stood around that cross of Jesus that day. Around that cross stood the Roman soldiers, the Chief Priests and religious leaders, the crowds that passed by and those two criminals who hung on either side of Jesus. If we analyze ourselves, we will be able to realize that each one of us can picture ourselves in one of these groups. Our life on earth will one day come to an end, but we have a life after death for eternity. If we want to enter into that eternal heaven, God has prepared a way for us to do so. All we need to do is to believe in Jesus, just as that man on the cross did. This was the reason why Jesus came down to the earth, and gave His sinless life up on the cross for the sins of all mankind. Jesus is that perfect and only sacrifice who can redeem us. When we call on Him, Jesus will answer and deliver us out of all our troubles.
The word of God reminds us that the wages of sin is death, and the soul that sins will surely die. This may sound frightful, but it is true. Nonetheless, if we want to escape this eternal death, we must accept the way that Jesus has paved for us. There are many who are in fear and regret, pining over the thought that their sins have ruined them and their families. The Lord is able to free us from all our sins, for this is the sole purpose why Jesus died on that cross of Calvary. All we need to do on our part is to believe and call on Him, and Jesus will come to save us from all of our sins and deliver us from the hardships that we face. We too will then have the assurance that we will be with the Lord forever in that heavenly eternal Kingdom.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
