Crucify Him!

"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked.
They all answered, "Crucify him!"

"Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"

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!"

All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!"

Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Matthew 27:22-26

Sitting in the back of the sanctuary of my church last night I was able to see all the people who came to remember the great sacrifice and gift of Jesus. I watched as men, women and children entered quietly, quickly found seats in the center sections and sat in silent respect listening to the piano playing old hymns, reflecting on the reason for this Thursday evening gathering.

As the service began with worship music the atmosphere was much more subdued than normal. There were video testimonies played declaring the blessing and faithfulness of God. Several members of the congregation came forward with 'cardboard testimonies' where they had written the struggles of their lives before Christ on one side and the freedom they experienced through their relationship with Him on the other.

Our pastor read scriptures from the Gospels that described the time leading up to and including the crucifixion. But, for the first time that I remember, as he told of the crowd yelling for Jesus' demise he asked us to play that part. He asked us to yell, just as that sinful crowd did so many years ago, "Crucify him!" We were all tentative at best. The words came out but in low tones at first. The pastor was urging us to go louder, and louder to experience the reality of what had happened. I could feel my heart hurt as I said those words, looking up at the cross on the platform covered with words representing the sins of us all, my sins, your sins: Lying, stealing, disobedience, adultery, drunkeness, lust, etc..

Now today, as I think back on this gathering that was followed by communion and a foot washing service, I read these scriptures and try to imagine what it was like for Jesus. Fully human in a fleshly body able to feel the emotions, the physical pain and yet fully divine. He struggled with the rejection of his beloved yet he knew what had to be done. Standing there on the steps of the governors home hearing his people yell for his crucifixion, how excruciating that must have been. Even Pilate, a Greek, knew what they were asking for was wrong. He washed his hands of the situation, figuratively and literally, exclaiming the blood would not be on him.

This crowd of individuals was desperate and following the leadership they thought had their best interest at heart. As Jesus prayed later from the cross, 'they knew not what they were doing'. But, just as they accepted at that moment they cried out for Jesus' crucifixion, the blood was on them and their children. It is also on us. He did not go to the cross for himself. He did not go to the cross for the righteous. He went for us! For all of us who are flawed, struggling through life in our own human futile manner. He chose to sacrifice himself so that we would have an opportunity to have eternal life. We just have to accept this gift. And once we have, we need to live and breathe in that moment, reminding ourselves daily of who and whose we are. We are the beloved children of a God that chose to make the greatest sacrifice on our behalf. All because He wanted to have a personal relationship with us. He gave us victory, not defeat. Let's remember the sacrifice that was made for us and as the days go by, take hold of the awesome power made perfect within us by a Savior who loves us that much!

Dear God I am humbled and pained as I try to imagine reality of your sacrifice. I thank you for that, knowing there is no way I can ever repay you for it. Help me remember you in my daily routine and to serve you above all else. May you be reflected through me today.

I pray each of you remember that you are dearly loved, cherished children of the most High God.  You have great power within you to overcome just as Jesus did.  Don't let his sacrifice for you go unnoticed.  Let it change you from the inside out!