Were You There? He Was!

"Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene" (John 19:25).

Reserved for slaves, vile criminals, and non-Roman citizens who were convicted of crimes worthy of death the cross was their fate. No Roman citizen could be crucified, they were beheaded.  That is why tradition has it that Paul the Apostle was beheaded for he was a Roman citizen. Peter as tradition has it as a Jew was crucified, upside down on a cross. Jesus was neither a vile criminal or a slave, and convicted by religious zealots who could find no fault except blasphemy to accuse Jesus. Pilate found no fault worthy of death, and tried to allow Jesus to go free. The appeal of the mob, and Pilate' precarious political standing at the time gave impetus for Pilate to cave in to the mob of frenzied religious Jews.

Notice something? Other than possibly John (vs 27) only women were at the foot of the cross. Where were Jesus' disciples? Apparently they were in hiding, their leader, friend and supposed Messiah has been arrested, convicted and now hanging upon the cross. Could this have been the long awaited Messiah? Did Jesus not forewarn them of this event? Their hopes and dreams smashed, crushed, they hid in fear.  But not the women they stood by Jesus in His last hour of life.

An anonymous spiritual calls out: "Were you there when the nailed Him to the cross? Were you there when the crucified our Lord? Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb? Oh! Oh! it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble, Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" HE WAS! He died for us, the reason He came was to give His life in exchange for our sins. He made a way for anyone who chooses to have eternal life with Him for eternity.

We must not run and hide when accused of being a follower of Jesus.  Our faith, our life should be noticeably different from the world.  We are the light, His light shining in a dark and sinful world. Will we stand at the foot of the cross? Or are we too ashamed and fearful?  The choice is ours, but the world needs what Jesus provided at the cross.  We are the messengers sent to the world with a message of reconciliation.

Daily Prayer:

Jesus, my prayer is that of a humble and thankful heart for what you have done for me. I accept your sacrifice and ask only that You help me by means of the promised one, Holy Spirit, to bring to my world the Good News, there is hope, there is forgiveness and there is an eternity possible with You.             Amen