Luke 23:24-53
And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

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.

Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

Look at all of the people who were there that fateful day when Jesus gave His life. There was Pilate, the conflicted governor, trying to keep the peace in Jerusalem but full of turmoil within himself, wondering what could be true, deeming Jesus innocent but yet consenting to His crucifixion. There is Barabbas, a murderer set free so Jesus could die in his place. There is Simon bearing the cross, following Jesus on that agonizing trek to Calvary, feeling the weight of this whole unjust conviction on his own shoulders. There is a group of mourners come to grieve, sorrowing for the Son of God instead of themselves and their children who desperately needed this Savior to give His life for them.

There are the soldiers, tending to their duty, hammering the nails, raising up the crosses, and seeking to take whatever they could for themselves from those soon to be dead. There are the mockers, commoner and ruler, Jew and Gentile alike, scorning and ridiculing and deriding, hating the sinless Lamb. There are the thieves, guilty and condemned of their crimes, receiving a just punishment, dying alongside Jesus. One joins the chorus of mocking, while the other repents and receives new life even there on his own cross, hours from his own death, in the midst of his own agony. There is the Father looking down from on high, offering His Son in place of sinful man, placing on Him the guilt of us all, turning away for those painful moments, and then receiving His Son to Himself again.

And then there is a centurion who couldn’t help but realize that something was different about this man, perhaps ready to believe. There are His followers looking on in stunned silence as their Lord is taken from them. And there is Joseph, a just man, a believer, who tended to Jesus’ body with care and love and sought to give Him a dignified burial after all that He had just endured.

They were all there at a crucifixion, bearing witness as the blood flowed, hearing the words of Christ from the cross, passing through the darkness of that day. There was the Lamb slain. There was an offering made. There was atonement now possible. There was the wrath of God satisfied. There was salvation poured out and freedom gained. There was our substitute and our Redeemer. There was the veil torn and the way opened. That was the day that love Himself died on a cross to save our souls.

And where are you among that crowd as you stand beholding? Are you a mocker, glad to see Jesus die, rejecting His words of truth? Are you conflicted like Pilate, wondering what it could possibly mean? Are you grieving your own sin and finding your salvation in Christ? Can you see all that Jesus said and all that He did and recognize Him as truly the Son of God? Will you believe in Him and love Him back and serve Him faithfully? There is a place for you there at the foot of the cross. His motive was love. His goal was your redemption. His method was to give His own life, having never sinned. His gift is eternal life for all who believe.