Sermon Central
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The Crowd At The Cross Of Jesus.
Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on May 25, 2025 (message contributor)
Summary: There were four distinct groups at the cross, watching Jesus Died. Ony one of them knew and loved Jesus. Today, we must recognise the three other groups, if we are live alongside them.
Matthew 27:35-37
35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.
37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him, ”this is Jesus, the king of the Jews”.
Reflection
There were many who watched Jesus being crucified, but there were two distinct groups in the crowd that day. There were his followers, those who loved him, and there were those, whom these verses refer:
1. those who were indifferent;
2. those who were easily led or manipulated; and
3. those who really despised and hated him, namely the soldiers, the crowd and religious leaders.
SOLDIERS
The Soldiers for instance, indifferent to it all because Jesus was found guilty, and as such, they were ordered to crucify him, like they had crucified so many before him. To them, it was just another crucifixion, and they probably couldn’t see what all the fuss was about. They simply did not know Jesus, they were simply following orders, and they crucified him.
THE CROWD
In a similar manner, the crowd too followed orders, not direct orders by an official, but a subtle manipulation into opposing Jesus, and somehow, they took pleasure from it. Basically, they were easily lead, easily fooled and easily worked, and simply, they were afraid to go against the grain of others. They however may have known Jesus, but only from a distance.
RELIGIOUS LEADERS
And of course, we have the religious leaders; they definitely knew Jesus, and they really hated, and despise him. … Jesus not only saw through them, he was in direct opposition to them, exposing them at every turn, threating their elated status, lifestyle and authority. Jesus was such a threat to them, that they engineered his death, (excited the manipulate crowd), and cunningly engineered their judicial system into his unwarranted conviction.
And now, at the foot of the cross, they all witnessed Jesus, battered and torn, punished as a common criminal, and left to die, alone, on a cross. …
