The Cross of Calvary

The Cross of Calvary

By Dr. Stafford Cripps

Prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, wrote 750 years ago in minute detail as to how JESUS, the Son of God and the Lamb of God would be born in the little town of Bethlehem, what name and titles  shall be given to Him, how He would undergo excruciating pain and agonizing death on the Cross of Calvary. Eleven times in chapter 53 of twelve verses, Christ is described in His substitutionary work. In the same chapter, Christ is seen as "despised and rejected of men," as "oppressed and afflicted." He is seen as a Lamb brought to the slaughter, and as a sheep, dumb before shearers. He is the One "cut off out of the land of the living," making His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death. The references are all to the Cross and the truth is obvious - it's too plain to be side-stepped. Plainly He died for you and me, He took our place.

On Mt.Golgotha, He was wounded for our (My) transgressions and crushed for our (My) iniquities (Isaiah 53:5). His suffering was inhuman...His death was horrible. Let's try to recollect the scene at Golgotha! Golgotha which means the place of the skull (Matthew 27:33) was a death place. But this place became the center of attraction for the sinners of the world because from this black spot flows life, light & liberty. Here was love incarnate, rejected, tortured, and crucified. This place is important to each one of us not because of its geographical location or historical benefit. It's important to us because a Man died there. Not just any man, no doubt hundreds died there because Romans were experts in crucifying. But there was a Man; a Man named - JESUS, because He died there, Calvary means everything to us today.

In Matthew 27:26 we read - Then released he (Pilate) Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified... Yes, He came for His own; His own did not receive Him! (John 1:11) Though He was Holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners (Hebrews 7:26), they clamored for His blood! In Isaiah 53:7 we read - "He was led like a Lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth." Jacob Behemen once said, "Man is sometimes like a wolf, cruel and merciless, thirsty for blood; sometimes man is like a dog, snappish, malicious, envious and grudging as a dog is with a bone; sometimes like a fox, cunning and sly; sometimes like a bear, cruel and ugly; sometimes like a leopard, slippery and fast; sometimes like a snake, sly and fast as zig zag lightning."

We see these very characteristics in the people surrounding the Cross. One of the reasons for which Christ came into the world was to give us a new nature in place of our sinful nature. Mankind needs to be changed! Rambrandt, the famous painter, after finishing the painting of Jesus on the Cross was looking at the canvas and was impressed by the various facial expressions and actions of the people involved in the awful crime of crucifying Jesus. Finally his eyes drifted to the edge of the painting to catch other figures almost hidden in the shadows...then, he was shocked to see representation of himself among the crowd at the foot of the Cross!! Suddenly it dawned on him that, he too was responsible for the crucifixion of the Son of God! That's why led by the Spirit of God an anonymous hymn writer penned these lines...

Were you there when they crucified my Lord,

Were you there when they crucified my Lord,

Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble and tremble

Were you there when they crucified my Lord...

Yes, I was there... am sure you'll agree, you too were when they crucified My Lord! Because it was my sins and your sins that nailed Him to the Cross!  This Lenten Season, let's remember the excruciating pain and agonizing death of The One Who bought us for a price not with the corruptible things as silver or gold but with His precious blood (I Peter 1:18), as the Lamb of God chosen before the creation of this world (I Peter 1:20). As we focus our thoughts on the old rugged Cross, let us thank God for His unspeakable gift (II Corinthians 9:15) He has given to us knowing fully well that His One and Only Son would be the sacrificial Lamb! As we are in the Lenten days, let's ponder the wonder of Jesus and especially His supreme sacrifice and His inimitable Love which is so marvelous and so amazing...