Last month I shared in my testimony that I came to know Christ on March 18, 1985. That year, Easter Sunday fell less than 3 weeks later on April 7th. When I first got saved I had no Bible knowledge. Knowing that Easter was just a few weeks away, I wanted to learn all I could about what my Saviour had done for me.
One of the first things I read about in my Bible was Jesus’ crucifixion.
These are some portions of scripture that describe the time leading up to and including the crucifixion of Christ:
Luke 23:1 And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.
Luke 23:20-24 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.
Matthew 27:27-31 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
Luke 23:33,34a And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
The account of Jesus suffering on that cross and shedding his blood for my sins made an indelible impression on my heart.
How can anyone who reads or hears of the sacrifice Jesus made not be profoundly affected by it?
An old spiritual asks the question, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” The haunting tone of the song draws the listener into the scene and truly can cause one to tremble, knowing that though not physically there, our sin was there, and it was not ‘they’ but ‘we’ who crucified our Lord. It was our sin that caused Jesus to walk that road to Calvary. It was your sin and mine that swung that hammer, driving those nails through Jesus’ hands, as he willingly endured excruciating physical pain. But that pain could not compare with the anguish Jesus must have experienced when he, the sinless Son of God, took upon himself the sins of the whole world. He became the sacrificial lamb, shedding his blood for our redemption.
As Jesus hung on that cross, blood pouring from the wounds on his head, his hands and his feet, he looked down at the crowd below, and saw the faces of those who had earlier cried, “Crucify him!” As the crowd continued to mock and deride him, Jesus said, “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do.” In the face of such amazing love and wondrous grace, how can anyone remain in that crowd crying, “Crucify!”? Why not step out from the crowd and kneel at Jesus' feet where his precious blood will wash away your sin?
Several years later, I wrote this song
Will You Cry Crucify?
You can listen here too:
©Deborah Bolack 2001
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~intro~
Walk down the road to Calvary, along the path Christ trod,
and witness there the sacrifice of the Holy Lamb of God.
Watch as the nails are driven in; each blow struck by our sin,
as willingly, Christ laid down his life in such agony and pain.
Will you with the crowd cry crucify, (crucify) and spit in the Saviour’s face?
Will you turn away, and try to deny he suffered and died in your place?
Or will you to the cruel cross draw nigh,
seeking out God’s gift of grace,
where the precious blood of the crucified will all your sins erase?
Hear Jesus say, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
The Son of God, who knew no sin, is pleading there for me and you.
Watch as the crimson drops of blood fall on those kneeling below,
for they have found God’s redeeming love,
beneath the cleansing flow.
Step out from the crowd crying crucify, and look to the Saviour’s face.
When you turn to Him, He will not deny. He offers salvation through faith.
Oh, will you to the cruel cross draw nigh,
seeking out God’s gift of grace,
where the precious blood of the crucified will all your sins erase?
Will you cry crucify, crucify,
Or accept God's gift of grace?
(Accept God's gift of grace!)
~~~~~~~
What will our response be? Will you cry crucify, or accept God's gift of grace?
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