"Reuben! Come join us!" I chose to watch them from my home.
I am a sceptic. I don't believe any of the stuff they say about the Christ. They say He is going to save us. They insist He is the Messiah we have been waiting for. He is going to deliver us from the rule of the Romans. I have seen too much in my lifetime to think that one man is going to be able to free us. This Christ is not a trained military general. He isn't royalty. He is Joseph, the carpenter's son. I know of His family. He is not the Messiah.
Anyway, that is what I thought until yesterday. My friend Simeon and I were minding our own business, trying to ignore the crowd on our way to the marketplace. As far as we knew, the people were still celebrating their 'king'. Then, we noticed, blood-curdling cries and jeers. There were so many people, we didn't know what was going on so we pressed in to get a closer view.
What I saw, made me cringe. Simeon and I looked at each other and turned to leave the craziness, when a guard grabbed Simeon.
I stumbled after my friend who was commanded to help a bloody pulp carry a cross. What could this man have done to deserve such a beating, I wondered. I had never seen anything like it. Crucifixions are common for criminals. Beatings are too. But, there was no resemblance of a human being left in this man. As I ran alongside Simeon, I heard the crowd...'crucify him', 'hey Jesus, where's your power now'. I realized...this was the same man, they were hailing their Messiah the day before. What had he done in twenty four hours that was so horrible?
I was sicknened by the sight and couldn't imagine how this Christ could still be alive. He was struggling for every breath, but He followed while Simeon carried the weight . What kind of people was I surrounded by. I was appalled by the spitting and cursing. I knew these were religious people and I had never heard such hate. I didn't care if this Jesus was a messiah or not, our worst criminals were treated with more respect.
We came to Golgatha. I witnessed huge spikes pounded through his wrists and feet. I wanted to turn away, but I couldn't help myself. I watched as they lifted the cross and pounded it into the ground.
I hadn't noticed Simeon, but he was standing next to me, his face in his hands. He trembled as he whispered, "He is the Messiah..He is the Messiah.."
My head spun as I stared at the bloody flesh hanging on the cross. The Messiah? Jesus the Christ was our Messiah...hanging out die?
I felt nauseous. Everything grew faint. Although, there was a crowd surrounding me, I was alone at the cross...just me and Jesus the Christ. My heart ached for Him.
Then Jesus spoke. It was a whisper, but it seemed to ring through eternity. "It is finished."
Immediately the sky turned black...the earth started to rumble. Simeon was sobbing, "He is the Messiah.."
We couldn't move. People were running and screaming. Jeers turned to fear. But, Simeon and I were there when his family and friends carried His body away.
Later that evening, Simeon told me that Jesus had talked to him. "He spoke to me about my life and how much He loved me. He looked at me. He could see right through me.." Simeon my big, tough friend, sobbed again. "I know He is the Messiah."
I was so stunned by the whole day, I couldn't sleep. I thought about the blood along the road, about the Christ. I thought about what I learned at Synagogue...'He was despised and rejected - a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised and we did not care....He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. ..He had done no wrong..But he was buried like a criminal'.
I finally slept. I dreamed Jesus the Christ spoke to me. 'For you. I died for you.' He wasn't on the cross. He was alive, but I could see the scars all over His body.
Today I still hear echoes of His voice in the silence. "It is finished."
I feel an expectancy in the air...something is happening. I have a feeling, Jesus the Christ isn't finished. I know that I know,He is mightier than the cross He was nailed to...greater than the grave He was placed in. . . Somehow, I know...He is Messiah. God made flesh. Anything is possible with Him....anything...
