John R.W. Stott wrote, “Before we can begin to see the cross as something done for us, we have to see it as something done by us.”
That’s a hard statement, but truth often is. None of us wants to see ourselves in the crowd crying out, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him.” We want to see ourselves as staunchly defending Christ.
We want to at least be John, who it appears was the only one who didn’t completely desert Christ, the one who made it from the courtyard of Caiaphas to the mount of Calvary.
Our hearts break when we read of the tortures and the dying of our Savior and Lord.
But … but … we are looking back at Christ’s Passion from our current standing as a child of God. We are looking back through our salvation, through our transformation. None of that was yet available to those shouting in the crowd that day. Salvation, transformation was still being wrought on Calvary’s Hill.
I wonder how many of those who succumbed to the mob psychology during Jesus’ trials and crucifixion heard Peter speak at Pentecost a few weeks later. I wonder how many of those who screamed for His death cried out for salvation as Peter spoke truth about Jesus’ salvation and lordship. We know about 3000 were added to the church at Pentecost, and the number of men grew to 5000 just a short time later. [Acts 2:41, 4:4]
There might have been any number in the new church that were part of the mob in Pilate’s courtyard calling for His death. And even that sin … that sin of shouting “Crucify Him, Crucify Him” … was forgiven. He forgives us all our sins.
Col 2:13: “And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses.” [HCSB]
