Today I was running behind and of course all the cars are driving
abnormally slow, all the lights are turning yellow just before I can
pass through, and just when I think my luck has run out and nothing else could happen, a train decides
to cross my path. It couldn't be a fast train, it had to be the slowest
train I have ever encountered. I was nice and patient, that is until it
stopped just before the caboose passed the road and to my amazement
began backing up....
I know you're thinking at this point I am exaggerating, but in my mind I am being very honest and providing bare bone facts. I digress.
Must I say that my patience turned into anxious
frustration in a split second? I think you guessed it. At that moment
God said very clearly to me,
"That." and I felt as if He placed His finger right on the spot. "That is what put me there [on the cross]".
That
statement took my haughty, anxious and frustrated heart to a place of
conviction and inward reflection very quickly. Before the train even
started going forward again might I add, I immediately said, "Lord forgive me".
Who Put Him on the Cross?
We could all point our fingers, and say "he/she put Jesus on the cross!"
We could even prove the guilt of Judas for ratting out Jesus' location and gaining money!
But it was really the Jewish religious leaders who wanted Him to be punished for 'His sin', they were blinded therefore accused Him and handed Him over - they're at fault.
Then again, Pilate had a choice and even after finding Him innocent chose to please the crowd rather than save an innocent man - Pilate should be blamed.
On second thought, it was the Romans who actually carried out the flogging, beating and the crucifixion - the Romans killed Jesus!
"He Himself bore our sins, in His body on the cross" (1 Peter 2:24a, NIV - emphasis mine).
Let that sink in.
They all played a part, and they did put Jesus on the cross and they are guilty but 1 Peter says that our sin put Him there. Yes, all our sin put Him there, but let's bring it a bit closer to home -
My sin put Him on the cross.
Although the cross is for the whole world, we must not make it impersonal by statements like "all our sin", and "all of mankind", - although there are few truer statements to be made, we look at 'our', and 'all' and forget the personal conviction of 'me'. How could we make it so impersonal? The cross is a very personal thing.
I Put Him on the Cross!
Sigh. Let that sink a little deeper.
When we take Communion and say our little prayer of sorrowful remembrance, and heartfelt repentance for the sins of the world that brings us to:
1. Eat the bread (*representing* His body beaten, bruised, and crucified), and
2. Drink the juice/wine (*representing* His blood pouring out from swollen, punctured and ripped veins and pierced hands)
Do we think, "I put Him there" or do we generalize? We must look at the cross and remember my:
Dishonesty
Anger
Greed
Jealousy
Pride
Selfishness.... (so much more could be added)
Put Him on the cross.
We should never look at the cross and generalize, because Jesus made the cross very personal and wanted to display just how extremely real His intentions were for YOU.
If I may be so bold and replace 'we' for 'you', the Scripture could be read this way:
But He was wounded for your transgressions, He was bruised for your iniquities... (Isaiah 53:5a).
Look at the cross as if for the first time, and see yourself in it because although yes the cross was/is for all, don't forget the cross was/is for you.
The morning I woke up and was harsh to my husband - that put Him there.
The meeting I had and I was asked a hard question and I told half the truth - that put Him there.
That student that pushes my buttons and I became impatient with - that put Him there.
That girl that walked by me that seemed so perfect and I felt jealousy/envy - that put Him there.
That evening I was selfish and prideful and thought too highly of myself - that put Him there.
The moment I forget the severity of my sin is the moment I forget the cross. The moment I downgrade the intensity of what happened on that day to a mere holiday is the day I disgrace the cost.
May we always remember the cross for what it was and is and never stop singing:
"May I never lose the wonder,
The wonder of the cross.
May I see it like the first time
Standing as a sinner lost,
Undone by mercy and left speechless,
Watching wide eyed at the cost.
May I never lose the wonder,
The wonder of the cross"
~ May I Never Lose the Wonder
