SUCCESSFUL SUFFERER SERIES
(Author’s Note: While we will be exploring the Scriptures to understand how people responded to Christ, this is not meant to be a modern-day indictment on people who currently hold these positions. In fact, I am hoping that we will see beyond titles and individuals and focus on characteristics. These may not only be behaviors that have been perpetrated against us but we may even be exhibiting some of these characteristics ourselves in response to Christ, as well as others. I am prayerful that this series will give us strength to endure as we reflect on our Lord. His suffering is an example for us as we strive to be Successful Sufferers. Let’s proceed in a spirit of grace and humility as we each receive what the Holy Spirit is saying to us. Blessings, T.L.)
Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, He had multitudes of people following Him. There were some who came to hear His words and some who came to see Him perform miracles. There were some who called Him good, while others said that He deceived the people (John 7:11-12). There were some who believed He was a Prophet, while others believed that He was the Christ (John 7:40-44). The crowds always seemed to have a mixed reaction to Jesus.
Jesus had come to the earth to seek and save those who were lost. His earthly ministry was focused on the children of Israel. As God’s chosen people, Jesus came to show them the true path to the Father that had been distorted by centuries of idolatry, fruitless religious practices, and religious leaders who had profaned God before the people. Jesus came to show the world the heart of the Father and to redeem a people to Him through His own blood. However, because Jesus did not resemble what they thought the Promised Messiah would be, many rejected Him. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. (John 1:11)
The people would ignore the evidence of what they heard from Christ and the miracles that they saw Him perform. There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye Him? Others said, These are not the words of Him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? (John 10:19-21).
The Jews were so enraged with Him that on several occasions they sought to kill Him but were afraid of the people. Some of the people within the multitude observed:
Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this He, whom they seek to kill? But, lo, He speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?…And many of the people believed on Him, and said, When Christ cometh, will He do more miracles than these which this man hath done? (John 7:25-26, 31)
Throughout His ministry, there was always a mixed reaction to Christ until the day that He had His trial before Pilate. The multitude that assembled on that day was of one mind and one voice. Having been persuaded by the chief priests and elders, the multitude demanded the release of Barabbas, a notorious prisoner, and the destruction of Jesus. There were no dissenting voices. There were no testimonies of how He healed lives through His words and miracles. They had no charges against Him when Pilate asked what evil Jesus had done. The crowd was so determined that Jesus should be crucified that they were willing to accept the penalty of His murder on themselves and their children.
When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. (Matthew 27:24-25)
The multitude ensured that Jesus was crucified. They were not satisfied with knowing that an innocent man would die but they went to see it for themselves. As Jesus hung on the cross, many walked by and mocked Him. And they that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. (Matthew 27:39-40)
However, the multitude’s indignation against Christ would soon turn into regret. And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, He gave up the ghost…And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. (Luke 23:44-46, 48)
To “smote their breasts” indicates that they experienced shame or regret. The multitude walked away with the shame and regret of having crucified an innocent man. However, on the next Holy gathering in Jerusalem, the Day of Pentecost, the men who had walked closely with Christ would give them the answer for removing that shame and regret.
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it…Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men, and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (Acts 2:22-24, 37-39)
The apostles were offering the very multitude who accepted the responsibility of crucifying Christ, the forgiveness that comes with Jesus having been crucified. Not only to them, but to their children who they also offered up to accept the penalty of shedding innocent blood.
We were not a part of the multitude who cried out to crucify Christ. However, because of our sin, each of us are the reason that Christ lovingly chose to die. Many people will come to the cross and only experience the shame and regrets from their past. They will miss that Jesus offered Himself to remove the stain of sin from us and be the Way for us to come into a restored relationship with the Father. When we repent, pick up our own crosses and follow Jesus, we also share in the new life of His resurrection. Therefore, let us hold our faith until the end and not become a betrayer of the sacrifice of Christ.
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost…If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6:4, 6)
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Copyright 2023 T.L. Lockley. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the King James Version®. Public domain
