0739. The Crucifixion

The Crucifixion

"When he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified" (Mat_27:26).

1. The Gathering Storm. "Then the high priests and the scribes sought how they might deliver Him." "They went about to slay Him." The harvest of intrigue was ripe. The "leaders of the people" but awaited one who would lead them in their hellish work. The leader soon was found. Satan had a man prepared for this very emergency.

"A storm is rising such as earth has never seen–a storm of wrath and maddened fury. It is focussing its strength against the Son of Man. Full many a time in days gone by, have I played havoc with the sons of men and led them captive in my snares: and now upon the crest of this engendered storm against the Son of Man, though God He be, I will ride on to victory."

2. The Trial. The weary hours of trial dragged their way along. Christ was taken first, before Annas, and Caiaphas of the Jewish priesthood, and then, when morning had come, He was led to Pilate’s judgment hall. After the mocking of Herod and his soldiers, and after Pilate’s final words, there came the whipping post and then the carried Cross.

3. The March to Golgotha. Ah, Holy One, why dost Thou lamb-like tread Thy weary way? Why not resist this maddened multitude? They know not what they do! Canst Thou not call a legion of those angels who ever do Thy will? What, wilt Thou go without one word? Art Thou like a sheep, before its shearers, dumb? Shall He Who healed the leper, stilled the storm; shall He Who overcame the demons, raised the dead, go forth and die, as the weakest of the weak? Does it become the Son of God to meet defeat?

4. The Crucifixion, the maddened Mob. On, on He went until they nailed Him to a Cross, and bore Him up; and let Him hang between two thieves. But, O, the agony the Saviour knew, enclosed by hosts of sin! How well the Psalmist Prophet did foretell that day: "Many bulls have compassed Me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset Me round. They gaped upon Me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion * * for dogs have compassed Me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed Me: they pierced My hands and My feet" (Psa_22:12-16).

5. Satan Leads the Hosts of Demons and of Men in His Great and Final Stroke against the Son of God. And, there ‘mid all those "bulls" and "dogs" and "lions" was the devil himself, their leader, all alert. That day the principalities and powers, dominions of the air joined hands with Jewish lords, and Roman tetrarchs, and the masses of the men of earth: and satan led them all. Together they gather round the Cross. They shot out the lip; they wagged their head, and shouted loud; "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. * * He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him: for He said, I am the Son of God" (Mat_27:42-43).

And there, alone, hated, scoffed, and scorned, the Victim of the attack of devil, demons and of men, moved round the cycle of His suffering. Yea, He moved on alone. E’en the few disciples, men and women, who loved Him so, stood near the Cross; but they could help Him not. Yea, He moved on alone–even God the Father left Him all alone, forsook Him in the hour of dying. Christ died a ransom death–a death in the sinner’s stead. He, Who knew no sin, was made sin for us (see 2Co_5:21), so God forsook Him, too.

6. The Bruising of Satan’s Head. Christ’s heel was bruised, but even so was satan’s "head." The Lord in dying had become a "curse" for us: and He Who knew no sin had opened wide, to all who come to Him in faith, the door that leads to life and light and love.

And thus it was that satan manned the forces of his own defeat. He led the hosts of demons and of men against the Saviour’s "heel" and bruised his own "head."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR