Jesus could easily have felt the loneliness of the cross as He surveyed those standing around. He saw the religious leaders who were hurling abuses at Him because they thought they had won the victory (Matthew 27:41-43; Luke 23:35). Some were just there to watch men die while others passed along and joined in the insulting (Matthew 27:39, 47; Mark 15:35-36; Luke 23:35). Even ten of His apostles had fled.
The Women – At one time there were thousands who followed Him, even though it turned out they were following for the wrong reason (Matthew 15:32-39; John 6). But now at the end of His life ten of the eleven apostles had fled. At this most painful, lonely time, it seems only a few were still with Him, but what a great comfort they must have been! Luke recorded, “And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things” (23:49). Matthew names some of them, “Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee” [These would have been the apostles, James and John] (27:55-56; Mark 15:40-41). Speaking of the women from Galilee Mark said, “they use to follow Him and minister to Him” (15:41). Earlier in his record, Luke had given these interesting facts about those women from Galilee. He said, “some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses; Mary who was called Magdalene; from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means” (8:2-3). Notice these women had financially supported Jesus and His apostles! We now also see that they didn’t just support Him with their money, but they were physically at the cross. Even today it is sometimes easier to support the Lord and His work monetarily rather than being personally involved with Christ and His ministry through the church. The Lord needs those who are able to support His work generously financially, but He also needs people being involved in “hands-on-ministry.” Notice also that those who were supporting Jesus had received a benefit from Him.
Application: The masses of people were not there to support Jesus. Neither were most of His apostles, but there were several women, whom the Holy Spirit saw fit to name who were there. In my 60+ years of ministry in local work, I have usually found that women were the most dedicated; the greatest workers; the most generous givers in proportion, in all the church. Even though God does not want women in leadership capacities in the public worship, God’s kingdom has advanced due to the work of women behind the scenes. Years ago, the late Ira North preached for the largest church of Chris tin the world. They had over 3,000 members. He said, “I can get more work done through the Ladies’ Bible Class than any other group.”
When people today realize the marvelous benefits Jesus has given them, they also will want to respond with generosity and cheerfulness to show appreciation. There are great works that Christian women, even widows have done to promote the kingdom.
Christian sisters, please do not feel that no one notices you and that you are worth nothing in the kingdom. God holds you in high esteem. I have always said that in the day of judgment if God lined people up from the greatest worker to the least worker, probably at the front of the line would be some poor widow whom the world had never known (Of course, this is an unscientific unsubstantiated statement). Probably, if Christ were crucified today, you Christian ladies would be there at the foot of His cross just like those ladies.
Mary, the Mother of Jesus – Anyone who knows anything about Jesus and the Bible would have expected Jesus’ mother, Mary, to have been there. Can you imagine the pain as she beheld the mangled body of her beloved Son, the long-awaited Messiah as He hung on the cross? Mothers whose sons have committed great crimes, grieve for their sons, even if they are being executed.
How much of Jesus’ suffering Mary knew in advance, we may not know. But, she might have gotten a glimpse of her pain when Jesus was just a baby. Simeon said to her, “A sword will pierce even your own soul-to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:34-35).
It seems that Mary had been a widow for many years. Joseph, Mary’s husband, is only mentioned in connection with Jesus’ birth and when Jesus and the family were in Jerusalem when Jesus was twelve. Other passages only speak of him being the earthly father of Jesus. It seems that Joseph was much older than Mary and had died years before. Jesus may have been Mary’s provider until He left home at the age of 30 to enter His ministry (Luke 3:23). Jesus had brothers and sisters (Matthew 13:55), but we learn that His brothers did not believe in Him (John 7:5). It is doubtful that Jesus’ brothers would have been at the cross and if they had been, more-than-likely, they would have been on the side of those who were putting Him to death.
One can see the love Jesus had for His mother in that He made provisions for her even while on the cross. “When Jesus then saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby; He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ From that hour the disciple took her into his own household” (John 19:25-26). The phrase “disciple whom He loved” refers to John the apostle (John 13:23; 21:20, 24).
Application: Mothers, you play such a vital role in your children’s lives. Because of your time in her womb, usually, there is a strong natural bond between the mother and her children. Even though the Bible exhorts fathers to bring them up in the Lord, a lot of that training falls to the mother. Use the time you have to build spiritual strength in your children so that they will stand near the cross, especially in difficult times.
John, the Apostle – He is the only apostles who was at the cross. For some reason, he and Jesus had formed a very close bond. In the gospel record he wrote he always spoke of himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” and at the end of the book we learn that this man was the writer of the book (John 21:24).
Application: If you were alive when Jesus died, would you have been a “John” or one of the other apostles? You and I will never be where John was geographically, but we have the opportunity every day to be standing at the foot of Jesus’ cross. We do that when we defend His cause. We do that when we live so that Jesus would call us “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Christ needs more Johns who will stand at the foot of the cross and defend the Savior who wants to save all who will come to the cross.
The Crowds – Luke gives a most intriguing insight when he wrote, “And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, began to return, beating their breasts” (23:48). Many others have been mentioned which did not include this group. The way Luke wrote this passage it seems these were just people “who came together to see this spectacle.” It doesn’t seem they were believers. They just came to see the crucifixion. But, something happened to them! They left “beating their breasts” which in biblical times was a sign of grief, especially over one’s sinful condition. See this idea in the publican about whom Jesus spoke in Luke 18:13.
It seems they were now convicted that Jesus was the Son of God and that they were now grieving over what they saw and were changed by those events. Remember, godly sorrow leads to repentance which leads to salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10), Maybe these folks had taken the first step in obtaining forgiveness for their sins,
Application: The sacrifices God the Father and Christ, the Son made when received in hearts that grieve over sin, can develop into great workers in the kingdom. We have already seen at the cross the thief who was saved, the centurion who came to believe, and now these who only came to be a spectator are now grieving.
What does the death of Jesus mean to you? Is it just a spectacle you have read about, or has it become a reality in your life? Do you see these events as history or as examples to follow? If you need our assistance in your next step in your spiritual journey, please contact me.
Wayne Burger
