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‘
they crucified him
’ (Matthew 27:35)
Over the years there have been many horrific killings of innocent people in our land, yet
none of them compare with what happened at Calvary two thousand years ago.
The word ‘him’ refers to a PERSON, the Lord Jesus Christ. He was God’s divine Son. He
was the promised Messiah. He was the ‘Lamb of God’ (John 1:36) and therefore sinless,
spotless, pure and holy. He came to ‘seek and to save’ (Luke 19:10). He came as the
perfect Servant to be obedient to the Father’s will.
The word ‘they’ refers to the PEOPLE. When the Lord was on earth He mixed with
people from every kind of background. Although He came with a message of peace
and hope, the Jewish religious leaders rejected Him. The High Priests tried Him using
false accusations. King Herod and the Roman governor Pilate refused to exercise their
authority and gave in to the cries of the people.
The word ‘crucified’ refers to the PUNISHMENT. This was the cruellest form of death
that anyone could possibly imagine. The pain and the agony were unbearable. It was
reserved for criminals who fought against the Roman soldiers and cursed them. Not so,
the Lord. He willingly submitted to the death of the cross.
He was not being crucified because Pilate ordered it or because the people demanded
it. He was being crucified because this was God’s plan of salvation for sinful man. On
the cross the Lord was bearing man’s sin and paying the price for our redemption by
shedding His precious blood. But this was not the end. He arose victorious over death
and the grave and today He is a risen exalted Saviour at the right hand of the Father in
Heaven.
This Easter what does the crucifixion mean to you? As believers we should be rejoicing
in all that was accomplished at Calvary on our behalf. If we do not have a personal
relationship with Him, and perhaps the work of the cross seems meaningless, He wants
us to acknowledge our sin and come and put our faith and trust in Him.
May this be a wonderful Easter for all of us – because of the risen Lord.