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Who was there that day? The day Jesus was crucified? We know from Matthew, Chapter 27, that morning, Jesus was brought before the chief priest and elders of the people. He was then presented to Pontius Pilate the governor, who handed Jesus over to his soldiers. At one point, the soldiers compelled Simon, a man of Cyrene to carry Jesus' cross. The two thieves were also there. Verse 41 also tells us that the chief priests were there mocking Jesus, along with the scribes and elders. The centurion was there. Many women were watching – among them Mary Magdalene and Mary mother of Jesus. Following the crucifixition of Jesus, we are told a man by the name of Joseph of Arimathaea asked for Jesus' body. In Chapter 19, verse 39, the Gospel of John also adds that Nicodemus was also there. I'm sure there were a great many other people there for a lot of different reasons.

Perhaps some who came to watch were simply curious, others were weeping because they hated to see what was going to happen to this man they had loved and followed, or maybe because they believed the "kingdom" Jesus had spoke of would never come to be, some who came to watch were surely happy to see this man be put to death because they did not believe Him.

For whatever reason they came - many were there.

So here's my question… were you there?

You're probably thinking, well of course I wasn't there? I wasn't even born yet. But, Ephesians tells us something differently.

He chose us before the foundation of the world. So, in a sense we were there.

I can't help but wonder if I had been there in the physical sense of the word, what would I have been doing. Would I have cried? Would I have been the one who just stood by and did nothing? Or would I have been the one to hammer in the nails?

Martin Luther writes, "When you see the nails piercing Christ, you can be certain that it is your work. When you behold His crown of thorns, you may rest assured that these are your evil thoughts."
We are sinful. Each and every one of us… is sinful. Sin is an ugly and nasty thing. As horribly cruel and gruesome of a death crucifying someone must have been, I suppose it is only fitting to have a horrible gruesome death to cover a horrible and gruesome sin – not just one sin, but all the sins of the world… past, present and future – of everyone in the world.

It's so hard to believe that God's love is truly revealed in the cruel and violent death of Jesus the Christ because it was meant for us. Jesus took on our sin and the punishment we justly deserve onto Himself and He bore it. He bore the rejection. He bore the physical suffering and pain - the unbearable welts from the scourging, the searing pain of the nails, the emotional pain of mockery, and the spiritual pain of estrangement from His heavenly Father. So many ask… why did Jesus do this?

He did it so that you and I won't have to! Jesus was destroyed and cut off from God so that you and I aren't!
Charles Spurgeon, England's best-known preacher for most of the second half of the nineteenth century was reported as saying that becoming aware of his own sinful nature, he saw that it was his own hand "which made the hammer fall, and drove the nails that fastened the Redeemer's hands and feet to the cruel tree."

I realize that I too had a hand in the hammering of the nails that day that put Jesus to the cross where He died. It hurts me so much to realize how much of a part I played in that event and continue to play into that event. Words are hard to find to describe my sorrow.

Only there is joy in the sorrow too. If I had been the one to die on that cross that day -- that would have been the end of it. I would simply have died. On the other hand, Jesus – well, He is Jesus! (Praise God!) He conquered the grave.

And today, as a child of God, I am no longer afraid. Because of what He did, there is victory over death. Victory is yours too, if you've chosen to follow Christ. Which means Easter is something to celebrate. Halleluiah!

You are no longer a slave to sin! Jesus has set us free! Let this Easter be a time of truly realizing the value of your freedom over sin but do not forget the cost that was paid.
Dear Precious Lord, our Father in heaven – please forgive us for being so casual and mindless about the unbelievable suffering of Your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us. Please help us live out the rest of our lives in never-ending, grateful praise to the One who said, "I am the good shepherd… And I lay down My life for the sheep… No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again" (John 10:14-18). We love you Lord, we praise you Lord and we thank you Lord. Amen!

"God's Words For US" from Cecelia Lester

Prayer and God's Will