Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

JOHN 19

Yes, it has been a while since I posted a new blog entry. To be honest, I have been reading and studying lots lately, and have just not taken the time to put thoughts to paper for this forum.

When we last left off in John, we were coming to chapter 19. Judas had betrayed Jesus, Peter had denied Him, and knowing what happened in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was alone; His followers had deserted Him. All, but John, that is. He apparently had some connections to get into the inner courts where the trials would take place.

I really can’t focus on much else in chapter 19 than the crucifixion. To try to find some deep meaning in some of the goings on would do a disservice to the narrative, at least from my perspective. I try to read these passages, imagining what it was like to have been there to see this unfold. Let’s forget for a moment that the resurrection is just as real, and focus on what Jesus was willing to do for the Father, and for all of mankind.

Multiple Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled through these events. And for anyone to think that Jesus was doing what He did in order to be self-serving or to self-fulfill prophecies, I can only reply that the hatred toward God must be immense in order to really and truly believe that.

But we are so far removed from the crucifixion. It really is hard to grasp. Such an agonizing death, and we say that, and yet do we really get it? I can only speak for myself, and say that no, I can’t get it. I accept it, and I accept what Jesus has done for me, and I really cannot fully get my head around the physical agony that He endured, the spiritual anguish He suffered when the Father turned His face away.

There is so much activity going on around the cross: soldiers gambling for His garments; a few followers of Jesus, including His earthly mother, are standing by; people fetching drinks; soldiers tending to the day’s events, with likely a steady stream of people coming and going. Business as usual also went on in the city. A crucifixion was not a daily spectacle, but yet it would not have grasped the attention of the entire city. Many would have felt this was just Rome being Rome, and an “I’m glad it’s not me” mentality would have prevailed in many.

Joseph of Arimathea gets it, even if he does so privately. His providing a tomb is foretold in the servant song in Isaiah 53. I wonder if he knew that. He may have certainly looked back on the day and realized how God had used him for that burial purpose.

SO WHAT…

So this would be an easy place for a big evangelizing point to be made. But my challenge is to myself and other Christians. How often do we make the crucifixion just a side event in our minds? Sure, today I have work to do, both on a job and at home. But does the crucifixion still hit me as something awesome Christ was willing to do for me, for everyone? Business as usual will go on, and it is very easy to let all the other events of life overshadow who Christ is and what He has done for us. I pray today that we “get it” a little deeper, and take time daily to thank God for that unspeakable, indescribable gift.