Weeping at the Cross

Photo Source

Good Friday is the day we remember the death of our Savior.  Whenever I read the scripture passages surrounding His death, I cry. The other night at church someone sang, “Watch the Lamb” and I cried. Whenever I think of the sacrifice of Christ, the cross and it’s price, I weep. Sometimes I’m alone reading my bible; sometimes it is during the hymn singing at church. I can’t help it. Why do I cry?

Fickleness Of Man

When He entered Jerusalem, they cried Hosanna (John 12:13), then days later, he was accused, cursed and mocked. Though Pilate would have chastised and released him, they demanded He be crucified. (John 22-23).

Oh, how it must have hurt Him to hear those He loved, those He would die for, those He prayed for (John 23:34) shouting and jeering; that they turned on Him so quickly. They were given a choice between Barabbas and Christ (Matt 27:19-20)and they were persuaded to chose Barabbas, knowing that Jesus was innocent. I cry because would I have been so different? Would I have held my ground for Christ or gone with the multitude?

Fiendishness of Man

I cry for the horrors He endured. He was spit on, mocked, beaten and bruised. We read that he was beaten and gloss over it but, when I stop to think about what that truly means, I can’t help but weep. Imagine the pain that must have been; a thorn crown driven into His precious head. The blood pouring from His body, that precious blood that we sometimes take so lightly. The nails in His hands and feet, the sword in His side. And people watched this, delighted in this, enjoyed this…what have we, the created done to our Creator? What do we still do to Him each day through our actions and attitudes?

Forsaken of God

He was humiliated in the sight of men and forsaken by God. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt 27:46). That must have been the ultimate pain, that God, His Father, had looked away. Jesus, equal with God, gave up His place in heaven and came to earth in the humblest, lowliest and most vulnerable of ways. If that weren’t enough, the perfect lamb, “bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (I Peter 2:24) He became guilty in the sight of His father and bore the punishment for you and me!

Friends and Family

Mary Magdalene, Jesus’ mother, the disciple whom Jesus loved – they were all there at the cross (John 19:25-26); maybe others too. They bore witness to His shame, pain, humiliation and death. They wanted to be near Him; they loved Him. I love Him; would I have loved Him enough to be there? I cry for them; for the pain and confusion that they most likely felt. As a mother, I  now understand a mother’s love for her child. I cry for Mary and the sword that pierced her soul (Luke 2:35).

Father

Thought it may seem odd to cry for God, I do. God send His Son to die. God, who loves His Son far more abundantly than my feeble human mind can grasp, allowed His Son to die. What kind of God sends his one and only Son to his death? One who loves His Son…and the world (John 3:16). Because of my sin, I couldn’t be reconciled with God were it not for Jesus. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21). God had such an incredible love for you and me that He allowed pain and suffering for himself and his son so I could be reconciled.

Forgiveness

And most of all, I cry tears of thankfulness. {Yes, literally right now as I type.}. I am forgiven. The horrors of Golgotha were for me. Each beating He endured was for me. The blood shed was for me.

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Cor. 6:20)

When I stop to meditate on the incredible price that was paid {for me!?!}, I can’t help but weep. Sure, some people look at me odd because I often cry when we sing hymns about the cross but that cross is so bittersweet and beautiful that I think more people should weep at its feet!

Find Freedom

Easter is a wonderful time to find freedom. If you’ve never accepted the free gift of Salvation, do it today! Have you wandered from the Lord? You’ve not wandered too far! Wherever you are, call on Him today. He’s there, He’s waiting and He loves you!