Day 185: Your Face In The Crowd
Read: Matthew 27:27 - 56
It is Good Friday. The day Jesus goes before His accusers. The day when
it seems that God Himself is put on trial before the masses. All eyes
are upon this Rabbi. All of them want to look upon the face of Him who
has now been charged with blasphemy against Himself. Some choose to
recognize the face of the One they called their King, their Messiah,
their Hosanna, their salvation. Yes they choose to recognize face but
they choose to stay silent. Their presence is vastly overwhelmed by
those faces in the crowd that are shouting "Crucify Him, Crucify Him",
"We want Barabbas, We want Barabbas!" "We want the Cross, We want the Cross" like some really macabre cheering section having too much fun.
Scripture doesn't show us the face of Jesus. It does not show the spit
that is running down his cheek, the repeated welts from constant
backhands, it does not show the blood running down His broken lip or
thorn scarred brow, his horribly brutalized body. We can only
imagine what His face probably looked like to those many other faces in
the crowd. Were they horrified? Were they sad? Were they crying for
more? Were they laughing like never before? Were they angry? Were they
rushing the gates of the High Priest's house or Pilates seat of
Judgement to put an end to any of it? Many questions - some yes some no
and some who knows. All they wanted? The Cross! They wanted someones face on the wood.
The Cross. Not
the face on the Cross, just The Cross. It's face rests on the time line
of history like a compelling diamond. It’s tragedy summons forth all
those whose conscience suffers for justice, mercy and forgiveness. It’s
Absurdity attracts all critics. It’s hope lures all searchers. It's message of love, hidden by the grotesque effects of Crucifixion, transcends all time and space for no greater love hath a
man than this, but that He laid down His life for His friends and we are
all His friends (John 15:13). My what a face! My what piece of wood!
History has idolized it. Despised it, idolized it and burned it, worn it
and trashed it. History has done everything to it but ignore it. They can't forget the face of the Cross.
That’s the one option that the cross does not offer. No one can ignore
it! You can’t ignore a piece of lumber that suspends the greatest claim
in history. The face of a crucified carpenter claiming that he is God on
earth! The face of the Cross. Your own face upon the Cross! How about
that? Hm? Can you hear the cheers? Can you hear the jeers? Can you see
all those faces in the crowd staring back at you waiting for you to just
finally die so people can finally just get on with the business of the
world? Can you see the faces of those who are continuing to mock you?
Shouting "Why do you not just go ahead save yourself, Son or daughter
of.....? Your very own Face, Upon Your very own Cross, That Crowd!
Let Us Pray: Gracious God, it is a
day to go inward. A day to look upon the deep darkness of death. A day
to be quiet, to look upon the faces in the crowd, witnessing the heavy
silence that looms large. A day to feel the pounding weight of untruth
and injustice. A day to look upon my self in the mirror and own up to
what is strangling my own soul. A day to feel gratitude for the full
truth of your deep and abiding love - love that refused to claim its own
safety, but willingly gave itself for me. This is a day that You have
made that I might dare to look upon it and see the depth of love you
have for me. As I stood at the foot of the Cross, one more face in that
crowd, Let the eyes of my soul be open and made empty before you. Restore unto me the joy of my salvation, renew a right spirit within me Redeem me, I pray.
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Read: Matthew 27:27 - 56
It is Good Friday. The day Jesus goes before His accusers. The day when it seems that God Himself is put on trial before the masses. All eyes are upon this Rabbi. All of them want to look upon the face of Him who has now been charged with blasphemy against Himself. Some choose to recognize the face of the One they called their King, their Messiah, their Hosanna, their salvation. Yes they choose to recognize face but they choose to stay silent. Their presence is vastly overwhelmed by those faces in the crowd that are shouting "Crucify Him, Crucify Him", "We want Barabbas, We want Barabbas!" "We want the Cross, We want the Cross" like some really macabre cheering section having too much fun.
Scripture doesn't show us the face of Jesus. It does not show the spit that is running down his cheek, the repeated welts from constant backhands, it does not show the blood running down His broken lip or thorn scarred brow, his horribly brutalized body. We can only imagine what His face probably looked like to those many other faces in the crowd. Were they horrified? Were they sad? Were they crying for more? Were they laughing like never before? Were they angry? Were they rushing the gates of the High Priest's house or Pilates seat of Judgement to put an end to any of it? Many questions - some yes some no and some who knows. All they wanted? The Cross! They wanted someones face on the wood.
The Cross. Not the face on the Cross, just The Cross. It's face rests on the time line of history like a compelling diamond. It’s tragedy summons forth all those whose conscience suffers for justice, mercy and forgiveness. It’s Absurdity attracts all critics. It’s hope lures all searchers. It's message of love, hidden by the grotesque effects of Crucifixion, transcends all time and space for no greater love hath a man than this, but that He laid down His life for His friends and we are all His friends (John 15:13). My what a face! My what piece of wood! History has idolized it. Despised it, idolized it and burned it, worn it and trashed it. History has done everything to it but ignore it. They can't forget the face of the Cross.
That’s the one option that the cross does not offer. No one can ignore it! You can’t ignore a piece of lumber that suspends the greatest claim in history. The face of a crucified carpenter claiming that he is God on earth! The face of the Cross. Your own face upon the Cross! How about that? Hm? Can you hear the cheers? Can you hear the jeers? Can you see all those faces in the crowd staring back at you waiting for you to just finally die so people can finally just get on with the business of the world? Can you see the faces of those who are continuing to mock you? Shouting "Why do you not just go ahead save yourself, Son or daughter of.....? Your very own Face, Upon Your very own Cross, That Crowd!
Let Us Pray: Gracious God, it is a day to go inward. A day to look upon the deep darkness of death. A day to be quiet, to look upon the faces in the crowd, witnessing the heavy silence that looms large. A day to feel the pounding weight of untruth and injustice. A day to look upon my self in the mirror and own up to what is strangling my own soul. A day to feel gratitude for the full truth of your deep and abiding love - love that refused to claim its own safety, but willingly gave itself for me. This is a day that You have made that I might dare to look upon it and see the depth of love you have for me. As I stood at the foot of the Cross, one more face in that crowd, Let the eyes of my soul be open and made empty before you. Restore unto me the joy of my salvation, renew a right spirit within me Redeem me, I pray.
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Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord) BY SELAH
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Were You There When They Crucified My Lord Were you there when they crucified my Lord Were
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