Were You There When They Crucified, My Lord?

Mark 15

Were you there when the Roman soldiers were crucifying Jesus? If you were there, what did you do? Did you leave; did you pray; did you demand his release; did you yell, “Crucify Him,” along with the crowd;” or were you afraid to do anything at all? Did you understand what was happening? Did you know who Jesus was?

We all have those kinds of options. We read the words again and again. But put yourself in Jesus shoes. People mocked him. Many of us take offense at the smallest criticism another person makes which does not come close to mocking.

Have you as a child been switched on your legs when you were naughty? Hurt, didn’t it? Can you imagine having your clothes stripped off and being flogged with a cat-o’-nine tails with metal at the end of each of the nine cords. The marks they make on a person’s back are sometimes called stripes…as in “By his (Jesus) stripes, we are healed.”

And then to make matters worse, the soldiers made a crown of thorns and jammed it on Jesus’ head. You can believe that “the crown” was not gently placed on his head. Do you know how big, sharp, long, and ugly thorns can be? Jesus’ crown was made of big, nasty thorns which would tear his scalp.

It is hard for us to grasp the torture and abuse Jesus went through to save us. Just think. He could have said, “No.” Jesus also had free-will. But he went through the crucifixion to save us from ourselves and to bring us to the Kingdom of God.

I do not know what I would have done at the time of the crucifixion. I would like to think I would be a brave soul and stand up for Jesus…even if it would have meant my downfall or death as well. But I cannot imagine that I would have done so if I am really honest about it. I am not a very brave person.

To have stood up with Jesus at the time of his trial and crucifixion would have taken some brave souls. I think I would have done as the disciples did. I would have run away.

But Jesus is “crucified” all the time…even now. We have the opportunities of standing with Jesus every day. I am found wanting. How are the rest of you doing?

Carol

Bible Breath: He died for us / Live for Him