0.0.1. Key Characters
1. Introduction
In this article, we seek to see those who identified with the death of Jesus. That is, those who, in one way or the other, sympathized with Jesus while he faithfully drank his cup of suffering and shame. Also, the faithful writer of that hymn wrote, “He had no tears for His own grief but sweat of drops of blood for mine." In this light, we shall also consider the disposition of Jesus as a guiding light for attitudes to be maintained when faced with unpleasant challenges as Christians.
1.1. Governor Pilate
Luke 23:4,14-15 Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, “I find nothing wrong with this man!” 14 and he announced his verdict. “You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. 15 Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty.
Luke 23:4,14-15 So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no fault in this Man.” 14 said to them, “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; 15 no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him.
Luke 23:4,14-15 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this Man.” 14 and said to them, “You brought this man before me as one who corrupts and incites the people to rebellion. After examining Him before you, I have found no guilt in this Man regarding the charges which you make against Him. 15 No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and indeed, He has done nothing to deserve death.
He was convinced Jesus was completely innocent. He knew Jesus was not guilty of any of the accusations levied against Him. But for the insistence of the Jews and his secret personal lust for power and fame, Pilate would have released Jesus. Instead of letting Jesus be the peacemaker between himself and God, he used Jesus for a substandard purpose. Pilate used Jesus to make peace between himself and Herod[^a].
1.1.1. Inquiry
Unfortunately, he is not alone on this run. He has a great host of accompanists among Christians. How many of us believers see our material well-being as being far more important than our spiritual wholeness! In not seeing the heights up to which Jesus can soar, coupled with the depravity of our fallen nature, we use Jesus as a means of attainment of base things. Would you choose sickness with grace, if need be, other than physical wellness bereft of God’s presence? Paul and Timothy settled for this. Frances Cosby, the blind writer of about 6,000 hymns, was reckoned to resolve with her state. She realized that she could not be more useful spiritually - eyes wide-opened. Is it better for you to be a suffering saint than being carnal and healthy? Jesus must necessarily be possessed by us at the price of our foundries. Pilate’s was power and fame. And he could not give it up! What amounts to Herod in your case? Or what is held by you in higher esteem than Christ Jesus? Career? Marriage? Pleasure? All these will perish with the earth, that is if the taste for them do not fade before you die.
1.1.2. Character of Jesus
Jesus, understanding the pressure he was under, scaled-down his sin, and consequently, consequences. Compared to Judas, He said to Pilate, “…the one who handed me over to you has greater sin[^Jn-19-11]”
1.2. Some grief-stricken Women
Luke 23:27-28 Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, “I find nothing wrong with this man!” 14 and he announced his verdict. “You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. 15 Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty.
Luke 23:27-28 And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. 28 But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
Luke 23:27-28 Following Him was a large crowd of the people, including women who were mourning and wailing for Him. 28 But Jesus, turning toward them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
The love a woman has for his child - poor though - is the best God compares to His. This naturally explains why the Israelites leaders – a men-only council – could connive against Jesus, signed his death warrant, and masterminded all manipulations that resulted in His death. But these women were grief-stricken. No considerate woman could have borne her child for 9 destabilizing months, birth him through such excruciating pain of child labour and watch Jesus so mercilessly handled, without a sharp pain in the heart. He was more badly whipped and treated than the proven thieves. The thieves could carry their cross to Calvary. But Jesus, having been beaten by the guards of Israel’s leading clan, of Pilate and Herod, was too exhausted to carry his cross to Calvary.
1.2.1. An observation
Thus, these women were weeping for Jesus. They pitied Jesus. But Jesus needed no such sympathy. Instead, it was His compassion for us that drove Him to the cross. O you unjustified, why seek justice for Jesus in an unjust world system? The very character of you not looking to the God of justice shows that you support the world’s corrupt system against God’s.
Jesus advocated that they should weep for themselves. They needed it more. They needed compassion for their hell-bound selves to see what Jesus had done for them on the cross so that they may accept it and be saved. Dear brother, everyone who rejects the work Jesus did on the cross through faith is as guilty as the Jewish elders who plotted Jesus' death, the Roman governors who approved it, and the centurion who executed Jesus. God has the same hell for the unrepentant as well as the executioners of His Son. Vengeance is His; it has been banked and accumulating interest for everyone, on whose behalf Jesus death counts for nothing.
1.2.2. Character of Jesus
Jesus knows what words do to women. More than what Jesus said, the fact that He spoke to them meant a great consolation. It was sufficient that they heard his voice; rebuke, encouragement, exhortation regardless. What an honour solace is it to have the voice of Jesus in our miseries! Really, “He had no tear for His own grief but sweat drop of blood for mine.” Paul attained this when he was writing to comfort the Philippians from a prison in Rome. This is a height we must all attain as Christians, where our personal distresses do not impede our ministry to others. Let us keep striving toward perfection.
1.3. Mary, the mother of Jesus
John 19:25-27 Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” 27 And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.
John 19:25-27 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
John 19:25-27 So the soldiers did these things. But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, His mother’s sister [Salome], Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 So Jesus, seeing His mother, and the disciple whom He loved (esteemed) standing near, said to His mother, “[Dear] woman, look, [here is] your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple (John), “Look! [here is] your mother [protect and provide for her]!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
The last known occasion before Crucifixion, where Jesus had a public conversation about His mother, could be perceived to be a renounce than ownership of her. A censure because the metrics of brotherhood for Jesus was the consideration of efforts mustered towards doing the will of God, His Father. Joseph, according to history, was long-dead, Jesus being the firstborn, therefore, was both a husband and a breadwinner to Mary. Thinking Jesus was mad because of His teachings, acts of frequent confrontation with the Jewish ruling council and nomadic lifestyle, someday Mary and Jesus' siblings went on a consultative rescue mission. Alas, they met with an unrepentant “mad” man! Jesus was not perturbed by their perception of Him; He denied them complete access to himself. They must have returned home shamefully (see Mark 3:21,31-35).
The last time she saw her dear Son: whose birth was announced by an angel; conception was by the Holy Ghost’s brooding; destined to be the saviour of the world; whom shepherd gathered to worship at birth - wise men traversed far unmapped distances daring the wrath of Herod to worship, was in a disgraceful public show. He was in a seemingly shameful and helpless state and disgraced. What sharp sorrow-bound arrows must be piercing her heart! How feelings of heartbreak must have completely shattered her emotions! What would she have made of the promises of God? Her musings? And all commandment carefully obeyed?
1.3.1. Character of Jesus
Jesus would not pass such trauma and emotional weakening by. To restore the honour she was rightfully denied earlier during Jesus' ministry, she needed to become the “mother” of John. That is, Jesus was passing the responsibility of her spiritual well-being to John the beloved. Else, she was also a mother to James and Josses, who were not alien to the event of that day and had been taking care of her material needs since Jesus exited home John 19:25-29. And they will take care of her as they have since He left home about three and a half years earlier. What a grace-filled disposition in distress by Jesus! Oh, to be like Him!
1.4. References
[^a]: Luke 23:11-12
[^Jn-19-11]: John 19:11
[^might]: Genesis 49:3
[^lion]: Proverbs 28:1
