We are already in what is called the Lent season leading up to the resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday. There have been many books, plays, stories, poems written about crucifixion. Our reference today is Luke 23. Much has been said about the cross of those who died on it. It was the cruelest form of execution for criminals used by the Romans. As we consider Christ hanging on the cross, we are forced to ask what did Christ see when he looked down on those who stood around his death sentence? We know he viewed his attackers and murderers. We know there were some loved ones in the crowd watching him die. Let’s consider each group one at a time.
There were those who parted his raiment. There were only there at the cross out of duty. They had no vested interest one way or the other in the ministry of Jesus. In the same way, there are many people who go to church for the same reason. They go out of obligation with no anticipation from Christ with the rudiments of what they think is worship but have no expectation. There are actually some people who attend church who do not even know why Christ died. Another group that was illustrated by those around raiment go to church for what they can get from it. It might be a status symbol to belong to a certain church. In their case they never have a thought of what participation or support they should give. Even though they may be in the building they have no daily expectation of service to Christ out of love.
As Jesus looked down, he saw those people who beheld him, who looked up at him. We cannot say anything particularly good or bad about these people. They were merely spectators, somewhat like the Laodicean church that was neither hot nor cold but lukewarm. These are the kind of people that never failed in their service to God because they’ve never tried to do anything. Those who beheld Jesus on the cross had the ability to throw support for him but did not. There are those who go to church out of curiosity about what kind of show will be presented on a certain Sunday from the platform. In the same way we can ask what these beholders saw when they looked at Christ that we can also ask what do other people see when they look at you?
There were soldiers at the foot of the cross who mocked him along with the priests that demanded him to be crucified representing the vile man of today’s world. They don’t see the good that there is a Christianity. To them Christianity is a useless superstition. They had no desire to open their hearts to God or to search out what spiritual blessings could await them. These people believe religion is antiquated, is out of style, or as a means to their own personal ends. They don’t participate because there’s no reason for them according to their thinking. Because they were of such a basic nature, we could see them as people who are full of pride for the positions they hold. Their carnality is their God. They may be soldiers who are guardians from outward attacks. However, for them, they are unaware of spiritual attacks regularly presented against them.
There was the bitterest thief who refused to accept Christ even while suffering the same condemnation. There was a thief to one side and to the other side of the cross. At first, they both were bitter. They made accusations against Jesus. We see in the spirit of the thief, people who would not accept Christ no matter even if they were facing death. Call it stubbornness. Call it ignorance. Call it foolishness. The thief was a criminal; yes, but what made him so bitter? He is the person who was at the wrong end of life and could not deal with it, to put it in a different perspective. This person was convinced that all of life and those in it gave him lemons while at the same time could never figure out how to make it into lemonade.
The second thief who at first riled on Jesus later saw Jesus for who he was. We call him the penitent thief. He represents those who have what we call a death bed conversion. This man did realize the value of serving God. His problem was that he had nothing to offer God. All he could do was to ask to be remembered. Jesus promised that that day he would be with him in Paradise. His faith was all he had that Christ would show him mercy. This shows that any who truly believes that Christ is the Son of God, died for our sins, and rose from the dead may be saved. He probably would have been a good worker for the Gospel news. This makes us wonder what life he would have lived if he had previously been saved. It is so sad that apparently no one ever told him about the saving power of Jesus.
Last of all, there were two people faithful to Jesus, his mother and the disciple John. Imagine how horrible it was for Mary to watch her son be murdered. What a heartache that must have been! We do know that she and John with the other disciples later after the resurrection became convinced Jesus was really the Messiah. What a transition that was to migrate from seeing him only as a man to that of being the world’s savior.
Can you find yourself as one of those at the cross? Is there something you need to do in relation to Christ? If you have not accepted him as your personal savior, please do so.
Christian Writer 