The Cradle, The Cross, The Crown

7. Him when Herod mocked Him

8. Him when Pilate condemned Him

9. Him when the Roman scourger whipped Him

10. Him when the Roman soldier crucified Him

The Cross was the cruelest instrument of death know to man. It showed the depths of man’s depravity and inhumanity to his fellow-man. Suspended between heaven and earth, the victim of the Cross waited helplessly for death. After a matter of hours on the cross, the victim would look forward to the arrival of death, in order to relieve him of his awful pain and suffering.

Such helplessness associated with the cross. No-one there to pat your head or cool your brow. Many a mothers looked on in stark horror as their son suffered the inhumanities of the Roman cross. As they writhed in pain and called out for their mother’s touch, but to no avail.

Such finality associated with the cross. There was only one way to come down from the cross, that being in the hands of those who were appointed to carry you to your grave. When the nails were driven in the hands and feet, it was as though the icy hands of death had clutched its victim, and would be patient as the life was slowly, excruciatingly drained.

Such horror associated with the cross. The Hebrew writings gave this dread warning: "Cursed is the man that hangeth on the tree". Any attempt to truly understand the horror of the cross would prove futile. The ripping of the skin; the bursting of the arteries; the severing of the nerves would bring torment almost unfathomable by those here today.

The cross was hell on earth! One can almost see the imps of hell as they dance around humanity -- poor humanity, made in the image of God -- impelled on the cruel wooden cross. It is a scene that would send shivers through the soul of man!

Yet, Jesus, God’s Son was born under the shadow of the Cross! It loomed before Him as His greatest exploit. All the challenges of His life would wane in significance when compared to the challenge of the Cross.

He didn’t relish the sight of the cross. In the garden of Gethsemane, He asked the Father to "let this cup" pass from Him if there might be another solution to the sin question. However, He resigned Himself to the will of God. Scripture tells us He "endured the cross, despising the shame ..."

I doubt we will ever fully understand the awfulness of Christ’s crucifixion. I would today that God would help us see it a little clearer. At Calvary we find the CREATOR being put to death at the hands of the CREATION. Or, allow me to make it even plainer: The sins of Richard Deem caused Jesus Christ to be crucified. It was my sins that caused Him to go through such torment. A debt had to be paid --- one I was unable to remit. As the song says:

I was guilty with nothing to say

And they were coming to take me away

But then a voice from heaven was heard that said

Let him go, take me instead!

I should have been crucified

I should have suffered and died

I should have hung on the cross in disgrace

But Jesus, God’s Son took my place!

Is it any wonder then, that the great Apostle Paul stated "But God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world"!