“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.” (Luke 23:33)
Every Gospel records that Jesus knew and told His disciples what would happen to Him. It was one of those times when Peter rebukes the Lord. And Jesus recognizes that it’s a temptation for Him. “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took Him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from Thee, Lord: this shall not be unto Thee. But He turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art an offence unto Me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” (Matthew 16:21-23) Yet the disciples were totally bewildered when Jesus was taken and sentenced to die by crucifixion. It goes to show how frail man is spiritually. It shows how much we do need the Holy Spirit to comfort, to lead and guide, to strengthen and to teach us.
Jesus, carrying the cross and the throng of people following Him finally get to the place called in Latin, Calvary. In Hebrew, the place is called Golgotha, meaning skull which was about 600 meters or a little more than a third of a mile from the Praetorium where Jesus was sentenced to die by crucifixion. The distance was long considering the physical condition Jesus was in. The cross was heavy. It was a large beam with a cross beam to form a cross.
Our Scripture begins, “And when they were come to the place...” Everyone must come to the place of death by the cross. Jesus led the way, literally. We all must come to that place not physically but in our hearts, spiritually and intentionally, dying to the flesh and to ourselves.
I’ve written many times how in God’s realm, the past, present and future exist simultaneously. (Ecclesiastes 3:15) The Bible teaches that we died with Christ on the cross. “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” (Romans 6:6) Our old man is the unregenerated person with the sin nature. It’s the former person whose spirit was dark and separated from God. It must die to be reborn of God. “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) And it is reborn a new creation, born of God in our spirit, with a new nature. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2Corinthians 5:17) We are reborn children of God. “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:26-29) These Scriptures are so rich in meaning. It would exceed the time and space limits of this lesson.
What happened in the spiritual is not possible on earth, where the span of time exists. But in God’s realm and spiritually it happened. Those who were to believe and follow Jesus were there at Calvary and died. This is more real because it happened in eternity. Here on this earth, we’re trying to live out our lives, but if our lives were crucified, we are to live the life of Jesus here, not our lives. Can we say the words that Paul wrote? “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) This is so unbelievably heavy that not everyone will understand and not everyone will accept it.
As I write this I think about my life. Is it truly surrendered to Christ? I think of the commitment that was too hard for me, that I gave it up. I follow my passion rather than obedience. I seek what my heart desires. Daily, we must pick up our cross and follow Christ. “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25)
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