Articles
Seven Things About Calvary
At the core of Christianity is the cross. It’s what really matters (1 Cor. 15:3-5). God forbid that we ever forget what Calvary was all about. Seven things should be forever burned in our minds.
One Lord. Now, to us that is not shocking news but to the ears of the apostles it was news they refused to accept. Peter wouldn’t have it. He brazenly rebutted Jesus saying, “Far be it from you, Lord; this shall not happen to you” (Mt. 16:22).
It is possible that even Judas thought Jesus would never die on a cross. He had witnessed him escape the crowd so easily on previous occasions. But when he saw that He had been condemned, he went out and hanged himself (Mt. 27:5). The sight was more than he could stand.
When Jesus’ enemies watched Him draw His last breath, they were convinced it exposed Him as a liar. You can’t kill God but they had killed Jesus. It was all they needed to see to become convinced this was not the Christ, not the Messiah. Oh, how wrong they were!
On that middle cross was the Lord; a Lord who came to serve (Mk. 10:45). There He hangs giving the ultimate sacrifice. God highly rewarded Him and one day every knee will bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil. 2:5-11).
Two thieves (Mt. 27:38). They were there to make Jesus look bad. He was numbered with transgressors (Isa. 53:12). Yet, when you place Jesus in the middle of two robbers, He shines!! All the crowd was behind Him, weeping for Him. There’s no crowd behind the thieves. These thieves watched Him endure His persecutors with grace and heard Him forgive them. It was enough to melt the heart of one of these calloused men and move him to say “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Lk. 23:26-43).
Three crosses. One was a cross of rebellion. The other became a cross of repentance. Only one was a cross of redemption; the one belonging to Jesus. What a difference in these crosses. One. Two. Three. Three men died on three crosses. Three days later, two men remained in their graves. One Man didn’t.
Four garments. It was foretold they would gamble for Jesus’ clothes (Jn. 19:23-24). Down to the tiniest details He fulfilled all of the Old Testament prophecies concerning Him (Acts 3:18). I wouldn’t want to stand before Christ at judgment having taken those clothes. They may have put on His clothes but my desire is to be found having put on Him. “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ, have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27).
Five wounds. There would have been two in his hands, two in His feet and one in His side. Here’s five major wounds, not counting the ones from the scourging and the crown of thorns. What a mangled mess they made of our Savior. “His visage was marred more than any man” (Isa. 52:14).
Six hours. When I was in elementary school, a teacher asked us, “Is five minutes long or short?” For those of us who answered that it was long, she said, “How would you like a summer break that lasts five minutes?” For those of us who said it was short, she asked, “How many of you would like to hold your hand on a hot stovetop burner for five minutes?” Now that changes your perspective! Our Master wasn’t on the cross for five minutes. He was there for six grueling hours (Mk. 15:25,34). Don’t ever forget it. If you are a Christian, express your thankfulness every day that His six hours of torture saved you from eternity in hell. If you are not a Christian, isn’t it time you became one?
Seven short sayings. What Jesus spoke there had to be short. Breathing, especially exhaling was extremely difficult on the cross. You can’t deliver a “sermon on the mount” there. But the One who is the living Word doesn’t need many words. Even before the cross, in His ministry, He packed such power in short statements, such as “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first” (Jn. 8:7). One sentence was enough to convict the accusing Pharisees and they walked away. Likewise, there is power in the seven short sayings of Jesus on the cross. Re-visit them in a quiet moment. They can reach to the depths of your heart.
I think what hurts me the most about what happened there is knowing who caused it. I did. “I’m the one who shouted crucify. I’m the one who made His cross so high. I’m the one who stood and watched Him die. What have I done? I’m the one.” Some are not ready to take responsibility for what their sins did to Jesus. Someone has well said, “Only the man who is prepared to own his share in the guilt of the cross, may claim his share in its grace.”
Let us never forget Calvary.
