The Unsung Heroes on Good Friday!
On the day that Jesus was crucified we see three unlikely
characters play a part in the scene. The Jewish leaders wanted get rid of
Jesus for fear of losing their power. Pontius Pilate wanted to keep the
Jews from rioting, though he wanted nothing to do with killing Jesus. The
disciples were gone and had deserted Jesus. And the people were ironically
crying out, "Crucify him". But these three men reacted differently.
Simon of Cyrene
26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized
Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the
cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus
Simon was from Cyrene, a small town in Northern Africa, near Libya. He was
probably a Jewish pilgrim visiting Jerusalem for the Passover. Jesus was
already exhausted and had been whipped and beaten so apparently he couldn't physically carry the cross anymore. Since the Jews wanted to get this done before
the sundown on the Sabbath, they wanted to speed up the process. Simon was the
first person to "pick up his cross" and follow Jesus. Simon was
forced to carry Jesus' cross. We are invited to pick up our cross to follow
Jesus.
The Penitent Criminal
Most of us know about this guy. While the other criminal, who was being
justly crucified next to Jesus, this man realized what was really at stake. He
realized he was guilty and Jesus was innocent. This led him to ask Jesus
to remember him when Jesus came into his kingdom. This man knew Jesus was
God, and Jesus honored him with the famous words, "Today you will be with
me in paradise".
This scene is a vivid reminder that it is never too late
for someone to turn to Christ. We sometimes call this a "deathbed
conversion". It doesn't matter when you come to Jesus, it only matters that
you do it before its too late. This man got it right, and we will meet him
some day if we too trust in Jesus.
Joseph of Arimathea
Finally, we have a man who was one of the 70 ruling elders Jewish Ruling Council called the "Sanhedrin". Joseph had not consented
to the decision. It says he was waiting to see the kingdom of God, so
most likely he believed Jesus was the Messiah. Importantly Joseph's role
on Good Friday was to provide a decent burial for Jesus.
In the other gospels we learn that Joseph was a rich man. In Matthew's gospel, the author suggests it was Joseph's own tomb he was giving to Jesus. In John's gospel Joseph and
Nicodemus, another man in the Jewish ruling council, bind Jesus in linens and
spices Nicodemus had bought. Though Joseph could not prevent Jesus'
death, he did his small part to make sure Jesus was respectfully buried.
He used his own money to honor the only Son of God, the Savior of the world.
Though these men are relatively unknown, they played an important part in the Son of God's last day on earth. I love
how one commentator puts it,
"In the hours of crisis it is often the Peters who have sworn loyalty to Jesus
with big gestures and fullness of self-confidence, that disappoint, and it is
the secret and quiet followers of the Master (like Joseph, Nicodemus and the
women) that do not hesitate to serve Him in love – at whatever the cost.”
(Geldenhuys)
On the day that Jesus was crucified we see three unlikely characters play a part in the scene. The Jewish leaders wanted get rid of Jesus for fear of losing their power. Pontius Pilate wanted to keep the Jews from rioting, though he wanted nothing to do with killing Jesus. The disciples were gone and had deserted Jesus. And the people were ironically crying out, "Crucify him". But these three men reacted differently.
Simon was from Cyrene, a small town in Northern Africa, near Libya. He was probably a Jewish pilgrim visiting Jerusalem for the Passover. Jesus was already exhausted and had been whipped and beaten so apparently he couldn't physically carry the cross anymore. Since the Jews wanted to get this done before the sundown on the Sabbath, they wanted to speed up the process. Simon was the first person to "pick up his cross" and follow Jesus. Simon was forced to carry Jesus' cross. We are invited to pick up our cross to follow Jesus.
The Penitent Criminal
Most of us know about this guy. While the other criminal, who was being justly crucified next to Jesus, this man realized what was really at stake. He realized he was guilty and Jesus was innocent. This led him to ask Jesus to remember him when Jesus came into his kingdom. This man knew Jesus was God, and Jesus honored him with the famous words, "Today you will be with me in paradise".
This scene is a vivid reminder that it is never too late for someone to turn to Christ. We sometimes call this a "deathbed conversion". It doesn't matter when you come to Jesus, it only matters that you do it before its too late. This man got it right, and we will meet him some day if we too trust in Jesus.
Finally, we have a man who was one of the 70 ruling elders Jewish Ruling Council called the "Sanhedrin". Joseph had not consented to the decision. It says he was waiting to see the kingdom of God, so most likely he believed Jesus was the Messiah. Importantly Joseph's role on Good Friday was to provide a decent burial for Jesus.
In the other gospels we learn that Joseph was a rich man. In Matthew's gospel, the author suggests it was Joseph's own tomb he was giving to Jesus. In John's gospel Joseph and Nicodemus, another man in the Jewish ruling council, bind Jesus in linens and spices Nicodemus had bought. Though Joseph could not prevent Jesus' death, he did his small part to make sure Jesus was respectfully buried. He used his own money to honor the only Son of God, the Savior of the world.
Though these men are relatively unknown, they played an important part in the Son of God's last day on earth. I love how one commentator puts it,
"In the hours of crisis it is often the Peters who have sworn loyalty to Jesus with big gestures and fullness of self-confidence, that disappoint, and it is the secret and quiet followers of the Master (like Joseph, Nicodemus and the women) that do not hesitate to serve Him in love – at whatever the cost.” (Geldenhuys)
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