The passersby.
To the passersby, the cross was knee-slapping comic relief. Jesus was just another anti-establishment fanatic who was getting what he deserved. They chuckled as the Roman soldiers draped a skimpy purple cloth across Jesus' bruised shoulders. They found humor in the crown of thorns that drew blood as the soldiers pressed it deep into Jesus' scalp. They howled like a bunch of animals as the soldiers struck Jesus over the head again and again with wooden clubs and as theypounded iron spikes through his weakened hands.
They contemptuously parroted Jesus' promises back to him as he hung dying. Matthew 27:40 (NIV) says they taunted,"You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"
As they spat on Jesus' pummeled body, they never even considered the possibility that Jesus was the Son of God orthat Jesus was God almighty in the flesh. It never dawned on them that they were hurling their insults at the one who had the power to hurl them into the depths of eternal torment. It never dawned on them that they were rejecting the very one who could offer them eternal life and accept them into God's eternal kingdom. As they stood there amused at the suffering of God's only Son, it never dawned on them that they wereamusing themselves to death. What they didn't know was that their callous laughter at the foot of the cross would haunt them for eternity. The last laugh didn't belong to them.
The Roman soldiers.
To the soldiers, Jesus was just another bottom-of-the-barrel thug who served no useful purpose to society. In their minds, this Jesus deserved to be brutally executed just like the two thieves who hung on either side of him. But as they carried out Jesus' execution, something caught their eye.
Wrapped around Jesus' disfigured body was a rather unique, though bloodstained, seamless garment. To them the garment was a trophy to be proud of. It was something that they might be able to redeem for a late night round of beers in a first century pub. The soldiers immediately began fighting over the garment like dogs fighting over a bone in an alley. Failing to resolve their brewing dispute, one soldier spoke up to the others asnoted in John 19:24 (NIV)." 'Let's not tear it,' they said to one another. 'Let's decide by lot who will get it.' "
In the heat of the moment thesoldiers decided that the garment was at least worth a throw of the dice. So they cast lots for it, gambling it away just as they had gambled away so many other prized possessions in their lives. As they stripped away Jesus' seamless garment, as they stripped away what little was left of his modesty, it never dawned on these soldiers that they were losing more than they were gaining. Sure they had gambled and gained Jesus' seamless garment. But at what cost?
The bystanders.
To the bystanders, Jesus was the most exciting show in town. They couldn't peel their eyes away from the violence of the cross for even a second, lest they miss what promised to be the talk around town for weeks to come. They clamored around the cross as the sound of iron striking iron rung throughout the hillsides. They stood on their toes jostling for position, shielding the sunlight from their eyes as the soldiers lifted the cross and dropped it into its mounting with a deep thud. They grimaced and looked toward heaven as Jesus and the thieves beside him screamed in agony.
Unlike the passersby who mocked Jesus, these bystanders weren't sure what to make of Jesus' death. They knew that Jesus was a spiritual man who was somehow associated with the prophets of old. They knew that Jesus had healed hundreds of people and that he had the courage to stand up to the elite religious leaders in Jerusalem. They knew that Jesus was being crucified for preaching unorthodox messages aboutGod. They knew that Jesus was different from all the other men the Romans had ever executed.
To be safe, the bystanders didn't dare taunt Jesus. They had a hunch that this prophet Jesus might very well be the real deal. Instead of mocking him, they stood around waiting for something miraculous. They whispered to each other in Matthew 27:49 (NIV), "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him!" Quite simply, the bystanders didn't know what to expect. Perhaps Elijah would come to save Jesus' poor soul. Perhaps God would signal his anger toward the Romans with thunder and lighting or some visible sign from heaven.
What the bystanders didn't understand is that God's most powerful miracle wasn't to be seen that day by the naked human eye. On this day the miraculous was only visible to those with eyes of faith.
The chief priests.
To the chief priests, Jesus was a paralyzing threat. The chief priests were the ones who had cleverly orchestrated Jesus' arrest in the garden of Gethsemane. They were the ones who sentenced him to death in their kangaroo court. They were the ones who concealed his innocence to the masses gathered in Jerusalem for Passover. From the very beginning of Jesus' ministry the chief priests had plotted his demise.
One reason that the chief priests hated Jesus was an incident that occurred years earlier. The temple was the chief priests' turf. They never forgot the day that Jesus cleaned their house. You may be familiar with the story of Jesus entering the temple area to drive out the corrupt moneychangers and greedy merchandisers. On that day he confronted the religious establishment and denounced them for making religion a business. He slaughtered their metaphorical cash cow and reclaimed the temple as a house of worship for all nations. Mark 11:15-18 (NIV) recounts the incident. "On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, 'Is it not written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'" The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching."
Well, the chief priests were miffed. How dare Jesus undermine their self-made authority? How dare he disrupt their power-hungry, money-hungry lifestyle and demand their repentance? How dare he presume to speak for the living God? To conceal their hypocrisy and rejection of Christ, the religious leaders hid behind a false skepticism.
As Jesus died on the cross, they made a promise they had no intention of fulfilling. They said in Matthew 27:41-43 (NIV), " 'He saved others,' they said, 'but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' "
The chief priests promised faith in exchange for a miracle. But their promise fell on deaf ears. Jesus had sufficiently proved his identity through miracles, signs, and wonders! The problem was that their hearts were hard. They had no intention of submitting to the authority of Jesus. They were their own authority! They were a law unto themselves! They were the definers and framers of their own version of truth! Not even the Son of God, the one who was the way, the truth, and the life, could change their stubborn hearts.
Pilate, the politician.
To Pilate, Jesus was a victim. Pilate was a Roman politician who was sent to Jerusalem to represent Caesar. He was eager to please the people. He listened intently to Jesus' accusers and questioned Jesus about their charges. In the end he declared Jesus innocent of all charges before turning him over to the Jewish mob. But in the process Pilate also declared himself innocent.
Matthew 27:24 (NIV) tells us, "When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. 'I am innocent of this man's blood,' he said. 'It is your responsibility!' "
Pilate didn't believe himself to be responsible for the death of Jesus Christ. He refused to associate his actions with the violence of the cross. To him the cross was the consequence of other people's sins and not his own. In his mind he was a good man, unworthy of the guilt of the cross. The reality is that Pilate's conscience was numb. His heart was desensitized. He was spiritually blind to the very real consequences of sin. Jesus was dying for the sins of the entire world and for all of mankind, not for the sins of an immoral minority!
There was a problem that perplexed Pilate at Jesus' crucifixion. Pilate was able to wash his hands in public and announce his innocence. But what would he do in private with his heart? How would he face the truth about his own life? How would he cleanse his heart of the sins that would haunt him to his grave?
The Roman guard.
Now to the Roman guard who stood watch at the cross, there was no doubt about Jesus' identity. The scriptures tell us that as he stood in front of Jesus, heard his cry, and saw how he died, he said in Matthew 27:54 (NIV), "Surely he was the Son of God!"
The Roman guard can be commended for his profession of faith. He had all the right answers. He had all the right doctrine. He got a smiley face on his quiz about Jesus' identity. He was factually correct. He gave the correct answer in Sunday school.
But where was this Roman when Jesus was being spat on? Where was he when his fellow soldiers were beating Jesus with clubs? Where was he when they pressed the crown of thorns into Jesus' scalp? Where was he when Jesus was forced to drag his own cross through the streets? Where was he when Jesus was stripped of his seamless garment and mocked by the crowds?
The answer is that the indifferent Roman guard was there by the cross the entire time. He was among the passive moral majority. He was part of that group that believed, but did not back up their faith with works, with deeds, or with action. This Roman was never commended for his knowledge. Jesus did not promise this soldier paradise for his action-less faith.
The thief.
To the thief on the cross, Jesus was the opportunity of a lifetime. As he hung there beside Jesus Christ dying on his own cross, experiencing the consequences of his own sin, soaking in all the things that were being said to and about Jesus, he made a stunning declaration of faith. He turned to Jesus and with a sincere heart he pleaded in Luke 23:42 (NIV), "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
Both the Roman centurion and the nameless thief on the cross came to the same conclusion about Jesus. The difference between the two was in their hearts. And only Jesus could see into their hearts. To the thief on the cross Jesus promised in Luke 23:43 (NIV), "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
Modern passersby.
This morning all of us are appropriately gathered before the cross. The irony is that in every age, the same groups of people are always gathered before the cross. This morning there are those who are like the passersby who find humor in the cross. There are those who think that this Jesus Christ is laughable. There are those who refuse to take the Son of God seriously. You have spent your whole life playing "gotcha" with Christians. You have been looking for excuses to laugh off the God's word or to laugh about your need for a savior or to chuckle about things that make a difference for eternity. The cross of Christ calls you to a serious moment of decision.
Modern Roman soldiers.
This morning there are also some of those who are like the gambling soldiers. There are those who gamble their souls away every day, betting on the things of this world instead of trusting in Jesus Christ for eternal life. You need to know that you can gain this whole world and everything in it while at the same time forfeiting your soul. This was the sin of the soldiers.
Modern bystanders.
This morning there are those who are like the bystanders who are waiting for a personal miracle before placing faith in Jesus Christ. There are those who want to see a show. There are those who want God's voice to boom out of the sky. There are those who want to see signs in heaven or who want their names written in the stars before they believe in the name of Jesus Christ. You need to know that God's biggest miracles can only be seen through eyes of faith. The best miracles are seen as you walk by faith and not by sight.
Modern chief priests.
This morning there are those who are like the chief priests. There are those who are hiding behind a guise of skepticism. There are those who are pretending they need more answers. In reality, they have hardened their hearts and have no desire to submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ. There are those for whom morality and truth is a personal opinion, for whom not even the voice of God can change their hearts. I pray that there is no one like the chief priests here this morning, but if this is you, it is never to late for you to open your heart to God.
Modern Pilates.
This morning there are those who are like Pilate. There are those who refuse to believe that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is the consequence for their sins. There are those who wash their hands every day and refuse to take any responsibility for their own sins. There are many who believe that good people go to heaven no matter what they decide about Jesus Christ. You need to realize that what you decide about Jesus Christ will affect the destiny of your soul. Your verdict about Jesus will stand for eternity.
Modern guards.
This morning there are those who are like the indifferent Roman guard. There are those who believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, but that is about it. There are those who dabble in religion, who have all the right answers, but who have no intention of backing their faith up with action. You need to know that Jesus Christ requires more than mere intellectual assent. He wants you to live a life outwardly that is consistent with your profession of faith. He wants you to step out in faith. He wants you to repent from your sin. He wants you to confess your faith when it is unpopular. He wants you to make a gutsy pledge of your faith in the waters of baptism in front of people. He wants you to obey his commands.
Modern thief on the cross.
This morning there are also those who are like the thief on the cross. There are those with hearts of faith who see the kingdom of God. These are people who through faith plead with Jesus Christ, "Remember me in your kingdom." The good news is that Jesus says to you what he said to the thief on the cross, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
There was one other set of words uttered at the cross that I haven't yet mentioned. These are the best words of all. These words weren't uttered to Jesus, but by Jesus. As Jesus died on the cross he looked upon all the different people gathered there. With compassion he pleaded with the father in Luke 23:34 (NIV), "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
This morning it doesn't matter what your attitude about the cross has been up to this point. What matters this morning is what your attitude will be after hearing these words. Will you put your faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God? Will you put your trust in him instead of gambling it away on the things of this world? Will you turn your faith into action and repent, confess, be baptized, and obey? Will you move beyond your indifference and intolerance and anger at God and submit your life?
You can think of the cross of Jesus Christ as a kind of crossroads. You have three choices. You can turn around and go back to where you came from. You can dodge to the left or the right and keep playing the games you have played your entire lifetime. Or you can proceed forward and encounter the savior of the world and enter into an eternal relationship with your heavenly Father. The choice is yours.