Luke records the crucifixion. Everyone’s attention was on three crosses, but the eyes of most were on the center cross where Jesus, the Son of God, hung. There were any number of things people could have done that day but they were drawn to the hill with an irresistible drawing.
God is drawing again. Before the end of the tribulation, those that remain will be gathered at Megiddo for the battle of Armageddon. I’d rather gather at the cross now.
Luke 23: 46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. 47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. 48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. 49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.
I pray the hold of Calvary will never be relinquished. I pray we’ll be glued to the Savior. Many followed Jesus for different reasons that day through the judgment hall, out the city gate, and up the hill. The top of Calvary was flat with a great deal of room for people to stand. Even those at the bottom could see what was going on. The crosses stood high enough for people near and far to see them. Paul told the church at Galatia that he knew nothing but Jesus and him crucified.
People were repulsed by Calvary and would look away before Jesus. The world today doesn’t want to think about it. Before I was saved just going by a church showed me my lost condition. We’re saved by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Luke focused attention on the horrible picture of the perfect Son of God on Calvary. He was rejected and reviled. The world that he came to love rejected him. The majority of his disciples ran and hid. The world would like to do away with him. They are trying at every level of society to put Jesus back on the cross to destroy him. We dare not dessert Jesus at such a time as now.
There was a sampling of the entire human race at Calvary that day, from the very wicked to the religious. They didn’t want anything to do with Jesus because to admit who he was also meant to admit they were sinners. We’re living in a rough time but there is still room on Calvary’s hill. It’s time to take a stand. When Jesus died it wasn’t that his followers had no place for him. Jesus had a tomb. In the cross. In the cross. Be my glory ever! Have you been to Calvary?
The world may try to destroy him and the Bible. God prevailed in Hitler’s day and he will now. Make a stand and glory in the cross. Our hope is there. I’m glad Calvary still draws people. Jesus will never go to the cross again. He’ll deliver us but we need to stand on the hill a little longer. Let the world cry that they don’t need Jesus. Don’t worry that they will destroy him. He lay on the cross so everyone could be forgiven. Even the thieves railed on Jesus. I wouldn’t be surprised if Barabbas wasn’t there doing the same. Jesus was reviled to the end. Thank God one of the thieves’ was changed. He saw the condition of Jesus and knew something was different. He acknowledged that he deserved death for his own crimes but knew Jesus had done nothing amiss. When you realize how underserving you are, it changes things. I’m glad God hasn’t given me what I deserve.
Jesus didn’t deserve any of this, yet he prayed for the Father to forgive the people for what they were doing to him. We’ll never comprehend the suffering of Jesus and we’ll never understand the love that put him there. One thief died and went to hell. The other asked Jesus to remember him. Jesus told him that he’d be with him in paradise that day.
No one could interfere with everything that happened that day. It had to be done. It reminds us to mind our relationship with Jesus. Be more focused on him than we are all the nonsense going on. Will we just be an acquaintance and slide into the crowd helping those against Jesus? The world has tried to kill him time after time. We need to stand in our place and stay there until he removes us. Look at the power of the cross even in the midst of all the evil going on that day. He saved a thief. A Roman centurion declared that Jesus was a righteous man.
The mob left but his acquaintances stayed; they took his body and put it in the tomb. Don’t listen to the mobs of the day. Listen to the angels who spoke on resurrection morning saying that Jesus was not there because he had risen! Stay at the cross.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 