The crucifixion of Christ set the stage for the great divide that would come between those who are for Jesus and those who are against Him. Despite all the animosity, Jesus still prayed to the Father that His assailants would be forgiven. Jesus always had a heart for the people, but the people did not always have a heart for the Savior. The world is an enticing place, and when Jesus declares that His kingdom is not of this world, it means more than that He simply lives somewhere else.
His kingdom is one of holiness, righteousness, a pure joy, and love. It is a pure place where only good comes and in which selflessness and humility are abounding character traits. This place is not desirable by many but rather is scoffed at. In the much the same way that people look down on the lives of Christians today, they looked down on the ministry of Jesus when the Son of God walked the earth.
However, not everyone despised Jesus. Nor does everyone despise Jesus today. A remnant remains, as it always has, of those whose hearts have been stirred by the love of God.
The divided escorts
As Jesus walked with His cross up Golgotha’s hill, Luke tells us, “And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon of Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus” (Luke 23:26). In this verse, a divide can be seen. The Roman soldiers, those who would later execute Jesus, were leading Him to Calvary. Nevertheless, there was a man named Simon who helped Jesus to bear the cross.
Granted, this man Simon was forced to carry the cross. In Matthew 5:41, Jesus told his listeners at the Sermon on the Mount that if someone forces them to go a mile with him, then what they should really do is go two miles with him.
The historical context of this verse consists of Roman soldiers, who were able to force people along their journey to help bear the soldiers’ loads. Jesus told His listeners that if this happened, they should be willing to go even further.
As the soldiers were traveling toward Calvary’s hill, Jesus fainted and could no longer carry His cross. The Roman soldiers invoked this privilege and made Simon carry the cross. What is interesting to note though is that Simon may have been a Christian or at least may have become one sometime later.
Mark’s Gospel tells us that Simon was the father of both Alexander and Rufus. It is thought that this indication in Mark’s Gospel signifies that these men were Christians because people in the early church would have known them.
The great divide is increased amongst Jesus’ escorts as a large multitude of people follow Him. This multitude is said to have consisted of mourners and lamenters.
On one side stood the angry and the hostile; on the other stood the brokenhearted and sorrowful.
The divided criminals
As Jesus got up on Calvary’s hill, the Roman soldiers proceeded to lay Him on His cross. They pounded the nails into His hands, and they pounded the nails into His feet. They picked up His cross and set it in a hole, and Jesus was left to hang from the cursed tree until His death.
While the Roman soldiers thought they bringing about His ruin, as did the Jewish ruling class, John 3:14 tells us that this was actually His exaltation. Jesus was lifted up high above the earth’s surface in much the same way that Moses lifted up the bronze serpent.
Still, a great divide can be seen. As Jesus hung from His cross, He did so with a man on His left and a man on His right. These two men were real criminals, unlike Jesus. In Mark’s and Mathew’s Gospels, they are referred to as robbers. Thus, these men were thieves. This was a shameful act for Jesus to be hung next to two criminals, but it also fulfilled prophecy. Scripture says, “…And he was numbered with the transgressors…” (Is. 53:12). These transgressors looked at Jesus differently.
One of these criminals spoke to Jesus and told Jesus to save them if He really was the Christ. At this remark toward Jesus, the other criminal spoke up. The Bible tells us that he rebuked the other. Rather than call into question Jesus’ Messiahship, the second criminal took responsibility for his actions, defended the name of Christ, and humbly asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus would go to be with the Father.
This pleased Jesus. As that second man hung on the cross next to Jesus, he got saved moments before his death, but the first man died in his bitterness.
The divided onlookers
While there were great crowds surrounding Jesus (including Roman soldiers, some of His women followers to include His mother, the criminals, some mockers, and John), there was a divided response by them all. Some mockingly derided Him as He hung on the cross. One individual cruelly raised up a sponge to His mouth to drink the sour wine. The rulers cried out that He saved others; He should also be able to save Himself.
But there was another group that stood by in sorrow as they watched the pierced Lamb of God nearing the end of His days. Scripture says, “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene” (John 19:25). With this group of women was the apostle John.
As they looked at Jesus, they looked upon Him with different eyes than His assailants. Their hearts had been enlightened to the truth, and they were no longer blind but had received their sight.
Application
A great divide will always exist until Jesus forms the new heavens and the new earth. Until that day, rest in the care of the Savior. Know that all of God’s creation is moving towards its final climactic event. Jesus will return, and He will make all things new. Choose this day whom you will serve. You cannot serve two masters.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for Your grace toward me and the ways that You have helped me each step of my life. Please change my heart and make it more devoted to You and to Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen