This week Team Swap is blessed to have a submission from a regular site visitor regarding the people that were at the foot of the cross of Jesus. Team Swap appreciates this submission and the heart of the writer. Thank you for your great post and your prayers for this ministry.
At the foot of the cross…
A look into the lives of some of those who where there.
Mary: (Christ earthly mother)-She is broken in two on one side she knows that it is God’s will yet on the other side she shows her motherly instincts. She just like any mother would have taken her Son’s place, but something inside her told her she could not so what was she suppose to do. Think of all the why questions that where running through her head about God’s plan and her part in it. Christ last words to her before death where “woman behold your son” (John 19:26). In this verse Jesus puts Mary in the care of John.
John: (The beloved, Jesus’ closest friend)-Why must his Friend and Lord die? He too was broken but not like Mary, but because Christ had told him that He had to die to save him. His brokenness came from the loss of a true friend; the type of friend talked about in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.). He was losing the one person he could count on to lift him up when he fell and the one person who always helped him defeat his enemies. Christ last words to John before He died where, “Behold your mother” (John 19:27). In this verse Christ is telling John to take care of Mary.
The
Roman Centurion: Did he make a true profession? In three out of the four
gospels he is quoted as saying “truly this was the Son
of God” (Matt. 25:54, Mark 15:39, Luke 23:47). To make a decision
we must look at the times and at what the centurion was risking.
1. Historical Rome:
• What ever the Caesar at the time believed the Roman citizens had
to believe or the where murdered.
• We also must remember that a centurion was over 100 men.
2. The centurion:
• He risked death
• He risked the loss of respect of his men
•Yet he knew the risk but he still chose to follow Christ in acknowledging
his faith.
Knowing what he risked the centurion had to of had a personal encounter
with Christ. So now the only question is did he share his faith with
his men? I believe that he did, because I believe that he would want
all of his men to know the God he now knew.
Michael the Archangel: Nothing is said about his reaction. However, if we think about why he was created and what his job in Heaven is we can make a good guess of what happened. Lets put ourselves in his shoes: He was ready to come with thousands of angles and take Christ away from all the pain and torment, however, he could not do anything unless Christ Himself said, “Come and get Me I will not do this!” or God said, “Go get Him I will not allow this!” Just think about what he was going through; he is a warrior that cannot do anything until his Commander says go, but he never hears the words. Michael is also said to be the guardian angel for Israel and now he is watching murder his Lord (Daniel 12:1).
God: His reaction is the most meaningful reaction of all. He turned His back on His only Son because of our sins. Even though His Son was willing to die for our sins, so God had no choice but to turn away, because God cannot look upon sin. His reaction is also shown through what happened to and on the earth: Darkness, Earthquakes, Eruptions, Storms, Dead where raised. Father thankfully Your “anger last a moment, but Your favor last a lifetime” (Matt Redman) and on that third day You called Christ home.
