What Are You Willing To Risk?

 People take risks all the time! Skydiving is risky. Opening a business is risky. There are risks every time you have a surgery. People risk things for what they believe matter.
When it comes to your money you will risk things for financial gains. How much have people risked in the name of education or professional advancement? If you live your life in fear of failure or for the surety of safety you will do nothing!
So, now I want to ask you a question. What have you risked to serve God?
Living a disciple's life will cost you something. Greatness doesn't come without sacrifice. Spiritual blessing usually comes after a cost has been paid.
Luke 5:1-8- And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
Peter has been working all night long and hasn't caught anything! He's done fishing and is cleaning up getting ready to probably go take a nap. But Jesus said that if Peter would just get out of his comfort zone and would ignore what he thinks he already knows then he will get a blessing. Once Peter went along with what Jesus said, he got more than he ever expected.
Matthew 26:73-75- And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
How did Peter go from "Lord I will never deny you" to "I know not the man"? He wasn't willing to take the risk. He didn't want to pay what he thought would be the cost.
You don't know what the price will be for taking risks for the Lord. You can imagine many awful things. Others have paid very high prices for serving Christ. But God will always be there to go through it with you.
If you're a christian in America, the reality is that the risks are very small. You may get some looks if you pray over your food at a restaurant. You may get mocked if you preach on the street. Someone may reject the tract that you try to give them.
There are Christians risking their lives in other countries just to read the Bible, or attend a service. There are many who have already given their lives to take a stand for Christ.
I Corinthians 4:10- We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
Will you risk your convenience? Will you risk your health? Many have risked life and limb. Many have lost friends and family. All the apostles died a martyr's death except John. Paul himself gave so much!
II Corinthians 11:23-28- Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
I wouldn't blame Paul for taking it easy in his later years. He gave so much already! And yet, he wasn't finished. Those risks didn't stop him. He was ready to take more.
Philippians 3:13-14- Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
You're afraid you might fail. But why not try?
Matthew 14:23-32- And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
I've heard many preachers berate Peter for his lack of faith. Really? He's the only one that tried! Peter and Christ are the only two to ever walk on top of water!
You're afraid to fail? What if you succeed?
I'm not telling you to keep a list of what you've given up for Christ. Don't try keeping a score card of your discipleship. God will make sure that you're repaid. You just keep going.
Mark 10:29-30- And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
There's always further to go, more to do, and more to grow. There's a risk you take in serving Christ. Not everyone will like you because of it. It may cost you friends. People may call you weird. They may even mock you or falsely accuse you.
Matthew 26:6-13- Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
I always get exasperated with this story because they're in the house of a LEPER! And yet, he's part of the group giving this lady a hard time for giving something precious of hers to the Lord. It was hers to give!
Your life is yours to give. Christ will not force you to accept Him as your Savior. He will not compel you into living your life for Him. It will always be your choice.
Joshua 24:15- And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

The Damnable Heresy Of Calvanism

There are some heresies that are so terrible they can cause christians to go astray. Probably the most terrible is the one called Calvinism.

I won't go into where it comes from, but it is old! The idea behind it is that people don't get to choose whether they will accept Christ as their Savior; it is God who chooses which people can be saved and which must be damned to hell.

There are five main points in Calvinism, four of which are false teachings. The five points of Calvinism are usually represented by the letters T.U.L.I.P.

The first point that Calvanists make is the total depravity of mankind. This sounds right until you get down to what exactly they mean. It doesn't mean that man is morally corrupt and needs a Savior.  What they mean is that mankind is incapable of making the choice to be saved by the blood of Christ.

If this was true, then why would Christ say in Mark 1:15- And saying, the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. The fact of the matter is that everyone can choose to repent and believe.

Nowhere in Scripture does it say that man has a total inability to choose salvation. It would have been pointless for the devil to tempt Eve if it was foreordained that Adam would be forced by God to eat the fruit. It would have been irrelevant for Joshua to tell the children of Israel to choose whom they would serve. It would be futile for a christian to give the gospel to others because they will either be saved or damned by God's declaration.

The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 7:20- For there is not a just man upon the earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. This is a statement of fact.

It is true that all men are natural-born sinners (Rom. 3:23; 5:12; Psa. 51:5), but it is also true that God COMMANDS all men to repent and receive Christ (Acts 17:30-31; I John 3:23; Luke 13:3). Man is indeed depraved, but he isn't so depraved that he has no free will of his own (II Pet. 3:9; Jn. 1:12; 3:16; Jos. 24:15; Exo. 35:5, 21, 22, 29). 

The truth is that all have the ability to get saved because Christ died for everyone! Every person not only makes the choice for their personal salvation, but also makes a daily choice after salvation over whom they will serve- they can choose to follow God's direction or seek their own gratification.

Romans 6:16- Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness.

Calvinists like to use Romans 9:16 and 18 (So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.) as proof that mankind has the inability to make a choice in the matter. However, they fail to look at the context. Paul is pointing out the fact that Israel has rejected their Messiah that came from the chosen lineage- God chose what tribe of Israel, and family within that tribe, the Messiah would come from. He concludes the chapter showing that the Gentiles accepted the Messiah the Jews rejected, and now the Jews would bear their iniquity for not accepting the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:17- But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

The reason men don't respond to the gospel is not because they have inability to do so; it's because they make that choice.

John 5:40-  And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

Isaiah 45:22- Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

I John 3:23- And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

He commanded that we believe; we get to choose whether to obey it or not.

The next point the Calvanist makes is unconditional election. This is the heresy that God chooses who will be saved and who will be damned to hell. This is the essence of Calvinism; it's their main belief. They believe that God has determined before the foundation of the world who shall be saved and who shall be lost.

Ephesians 2:10- For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Jude 1:4- For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Calvanists take the verses above and use them as proof that people are chosen because of the word "ordained".

What they fail to understand is that the judgment was what was ordained. God said that whoever accepts Christ would have their sin forgiven and would be given a home in heaven with Him, on the other hand those who reject and deny the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary will end up under the condemnation of God because of their choice.

If we believed that God is the author of every action every man takes then we are blaming God for the genocide that happened under Hitler, Stalin, and others. Who would fault God for that wickedness? God says multiple times in the Bible to love your neighbor, so why would he orchestrate mass murder?

This heresy is derived from perverting verses like Ephesians 1:4-5 and Romans 8:29. The Calvinists believe that God predestinated everyone way back before Genesis 1:1, totally ignoring their free will to choose for themselves. That is, He supposedly decided who would go to Heaven and who would go to Hell long before anyone was even born. If you'll read Romans 8:29 and I Peter 1:1-2 you'll see that God's election is based on FOREKNOWLEDGE. He didn't elect to save or damn anyone against their free will. 

Calvinists take any and every verse that mentions God's direction as proof for divine foreordination. But that takes the accountability of man away- he was forced to commit these atrocities by God Himself!

Jeremiah 19:5- They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:

God said to Jeremiah that He never thought of child sacrifices. He never wanted that to happen, but it was!

What God foreordained was the consequences of sin. He foreordained that Christ would die to pay the penalty for sin. He foreordained what blessings and curses would fall on those who choose to commit sin. But, God did not foreordain the sins that each individual would daily choose to perpetrate.

If the Jews in the gospels were simply carrying out God's decree then they wouldn't be declared responsible for the consequences of their actions- they would be declared obedient to the will of God! They chose to crucify Christ.

Luke 22:22- And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!

1 Corinthians 2:8- Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Christ was foreordained to die. But the Bible says that if they had known He was the Lord of Glory, the Son of God, they would have made a different choice in the matter.

The question is, "How can a person be a free and responsible agent if his actions have been foreordained from eternity?"

So, Total Depravity demands that God must elect through Unconditional Election who will be saved, and the blood He shed on Calvary is only for those who He has chosen to be saved. They call this limited atonement- God only died for certain people that He chose.

This belief, that only a limited number of people can be washed from their sins in the precious blood of Christ because only "the elect" will be saved anyway, ignores all the verses that say died for all humanity. The idea is that Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it (Eph. 5:25); so the blood of Christ was only shed for the church. This is foolishness. I Timothy 2:6 says that Christ gave Himself a ransom for ALL, not just the elect. ALL have sinned (Rom. 3:23); so He died for ALL, and He saves "as many as" receive Him (John 1:12).

Calvinists have a problem with specific verses because of the words they use, like whosoever, any, and all.

John 3:16- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Acts 10:43- To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

John 10:9- I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Romans 3:22- Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

John 12:32- And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

They like to say that we don't know the meaning of these words. Really?

1 John 2:2- And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

That one is pretty clear. He died for the sins of the entire human race! 

According to Calvinists, those who are elected by God for salvation are saved by irresistible grace. Again, they are taking away the liability of the person to make their own choices. Irresistible grace means that our will cannot resist God when He declares us to be saved.

Basically, irresistible grace is what saves a man, believing on Christ is just a result of this overpowering grace being forced upon you. 

They will quote Paul in 1 Corinthians 4:19 as proof- But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.

The idea that a person who is saved will automatically do God's will because it is forced upon him is ridiculous. Paul is saying that he will try to come for a visit, if the Lord makes a way for him to. It's the same as you saying that you'll go out with your friends if you don't have to work- your boss doesn't force you to work, you choose to show up.

Paul, in the same book of 1 Corinthians, goes on to rebuke these Christians for suing each other in a court of law. 

I Corinthians 6:1,5,6,8- Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

Paul doesn't say they aren't saved. But, he does say they are doing wrong in the eyes of God. What? Why would God compel them to do wrong against another Christian? The truth is that He wouldn't!

Calvinists would have you believe that men are dead in sin to the extent that they are unable to believe on Jesus Christ of their own free will, yet God has elected some to salvation, atoned for their sin, and will them to be saved regardless of their desire, and then they must quietly wait for God to overpower their will and regenerate them so they can believe the gospel.

This teaching says that God the Holy Spirit overpowers the sinner and grants him the new birth without his conscious submission or positive response. As we've already seen, man DOES have a free will and no one is saved without CHOOSING to believe on Christ as Lord and Saviour. There is no such thing as irresistible grace. God has given us all the ability to resist anyone or anything we choose (Acts 7:51; II Tim. 3:8; Jas. 4:7). There are times when the convicting power of the Holy Spirit is so strong and real that a sinner sees no choice but to give in to God and receive Christ as Saviour, but the sinner always has a choice. No one is saved against their will, and no one is saved without first choosing to receive Christ.

I Corinthians 14:32- And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

The truth is that each of us not only get a say in the matter of our eternal destination, but we also have a choice in the every day actions that we perform. If no one has a choice, then why would we need to preach to them? Why would we send missionaries to tell them when God can force them into salvation?

Romans 10:14- How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

II Thessalonians 3:1- Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.

We are commanded to preach the gospel to the lost whether they will hear it or not. Why? Because the gospel is offered to all! God is not a man void of compassion who asks us to present the gospel that He never intends to allow them to accept.

The final point of Calvinism is the perseverance of the saints (this is also sometimes called Lordship Salvation). Some people think this is just talking about eternal security, or the fact that a Christian in the church age cannot lose their salvation.

Once a sinner receives Christ, he is predestinated to be conformed to Christ's image (Rom. 8:29). That is, as Christians, we are eternally secure and cannot lose the salvation which God has freely given us, but this is due to GOD'S PRESERVATION, not our perseverance.

They are stating that once God has forced his salvation on a person that He will continue forcing His will on that person until the end of their life so that they cannot lose their salvation. The converted sinner is made to persevere in the faith by the grace of God, and hence they cannot lose their salvation because it's God's sovereign power that keeps the person in a state of grace and holiness to the end.

Here is the problem, only a Christian in the church age has eternal security. Again, dispensations are a very important thing! God deals with people different ways throughout history. 

In the church age, when you accept Christ as your Savior you get sealed with the Holy Spirit. 

In the old testament, the spirit of God would come on a man while he was doing the work of God and then it would leave him. Sometimes it would leave and never come back!

In the Tribulation, a person can lose their salvation.

Hebrews 10:26- For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

Did you catch the wording? If we sin wilfully! That's a choice made by you!

Paul talks about a man named Demas. In Colossians, he sends Demas' greetings to the Christians he is writing to. In Philemon, he mentions Demas as a fellowlaborer. However, in the book of 2 Timothy, he states that Demas loved the world and went to live in Thessalonica instead of continuing with Paul in his ministry.

Not once does Paul say that Demas was never saved! Just that he made the choice to live for himself.

Matthew 26:41- Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Christ told the disciples to watch and pray because there was a possibility that they could be tempted. How does temptation fit into you having no choice in obeying God's will?I Thessalonians 5:22- Abstain from all appearance of evil.

This has nothing to do with salvation. It has everything to do with your daily walk as a Christian and the choices you make.

 The issue is not whether Jesus Christ is the Lord, for he is whether you accept him as the Lord or not! The issue is whether a sinner must make Christ the Lord of his life at the time he believes on Jesus Christ for salvation.

You see, a person can ask Christ to save their soul, and then live their life as if they had never gotten saved- we call these carnal christians.

I Corinthians 3:1- And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

Why are these Christians carnal babes? Because they have a free will and can choose to be selfish and worldly.

If a man's salvation depends on his perseverance then his depravity wouldn't be total, but partial. If a man's salvation depends on his perseverance then he could never be elected unconditionally because the salvation would be conditional. If a man's salvation depended on his perseverance, then the atonement of God is a failure. If a man's salvation depends on any work that he has to do then the grace applied is not irresistible! 

The truth is that you do have a choice. Christ died for your sins, and you can of your own free will ask Him to apply the payment He made on Calvary to your sin debt. 

Hebrews 9:27- And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Revelation 20:11-12- And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

You will one day be judged according to your works. You will be judged for every thought, action, and motive that you chose to carry out while you were alive on this earth. You will not be able to say that you had no choice in the matter, because you did, and those choices are what will determine whether you end up in heaven or hell.

NOTE: This is by no means an exhaustive study on this subject. If you are looking for material on Calvinism, please check out the book The Other Side Of Calvinism by Laurence M. Vance.

Sick Of Love (video sermon)

In Order To Live book review

 Growing up in America, I have been blessed more than most. Our life wasn't always easy, and there were definitely times of struggle, but the book In Order To Live by Yeonmi Park has opened my eyes to just how fortunate my life has been.

This book gives a lot of unknown history of North and South Korea, and also details what life is like for people in that area. 

Living in a socialist country is a nightmare that I wish more people understood. Escaping from a socialist country can be even more of a terror. The things that this young lady had to endure in order to gain her freedom is harrowing.

But I don't want to only focus on the physical journey.

The emotional and intellectual story is also one that will give you hope that no matter what your circumstances, if you are determined, you can come through to the other side. The injustices in life are many and are found in all parts of the world; but you do not have to let your current hardships define you. 

Ms Park is very brave young lady, and if you will allow her story to it will make a difference in your view of not only your life, but also the conditions of the rest of the world. And it just might encourage you to do something that can give others hope.

In The Cross Of Christ (poem)

In the cross of Christ I glory,
Towering o'er the wrecks of time;
All the light of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime. 

When the woes of life o'ertake me,
Hopes deceive, and fears annoy,
Never shall the cross forsake me;
Lo, it glows with peace and joy!

When the sun of bliss is beaming
Light and love upon my way,
From the cross the radiance streaming
Adds new lustre to the day.

Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,
By the cross are sanctified;
Peace is there that knows no measure,
Joys that through all time abide.

-Sir John Bowring

Be Ye Glad (song)

People Who Witnessed Calvary

 When we think of Jesus dying for our sins, we don't often imagine the horrible things that the act entailed. There was a physical, emotional, and spiritual aspect.

In the physical aspect, there was the torture of crucifixion.

Spiritually, Jesus was confronting the devil and sin itself. He became sin for us and suffered what the devil himself will one day suffer for an eternity- all in just a few hours.

The aspect that I want to focus on today is the emotional one. The feelings evoked by those who saw the crucified Christ.

There were five different types, or groups, of people who were at the cross and each of these would attack and invoke a different emotional response from our Savior.

First, there were the condemned criminals.

Luke 23:33- And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

Christ was not the only one who was being punished through crucifixion that day. This type of torturous death was a common punishment executed by the Roman government against their criminals and enemies.

These two men had been found guilty of crimes against the Romans and were sentenced to die. They were led away with Jesus and subjected to the same humiliating process that our Savior endured.

The fact that they were guilty and He was innocent was overlooked by many people, including one of the criminals.

Luke 23:39- And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

He should have known that he deserved death. His trial wasn't a sham. I wonder if he had ever heard Jesus preaching while he was a free man?

The second criminal had a more humble heart. He realized that his punishment was just due to his crimes. He is like most people who get saved- I realize that I'm a sinner deserving of my sins and that Jesus is the only hope that I have when this life is ended.

Luke 23:40-42- But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

I think this man may have heard of Jesus before this. He knew that Jesus was falsely accused. And, reaching out in faith said the only thing he could think was appropriate to ask- remember me.

He knew that his life was over. There was no doubt in his mind that this was the end of his mortality. All he wanted was for Jesus to remember him in the afterlife.

I bet this touched Jesus' heart in a way many wouldn't understand. He came to seek and save the lost. It was His plan to pay the debt for sin and offer salvation to all who would humbly ask it of Him.

Perhaps he was smiling inside knowing that this man would be the first to be granted that forgiveness.

Luke 23:43- And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

The next group of people were the Romans. These men who were carrying out the death sentence had obviously heard of Jesus. Perhaps some of them had even heard Him speak, or saw His miracles.

Pilate certainly didn't want to subject Jesus to this death.

Mark 15:14- Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.

Pilate had him scourged hoping that this would satisfy the religious Jews. The soldiers mocked and beat Jesus until He no longer looked like a human. Even this didn't satisfy the wicked Pharisees.

Matthew 27:27-31- Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

Can you imagine the devil mocking Christ behind the scenes? These are your creation. The humans that you took such care to create and provide for are treating you in this manner. Are they really worth it?

The fact that Jesus allowed them to beat and mock Him proved that He believed humanity was worth it!

The Romans tortured, spit on, beat, mocked, and then led Him away to be crucified. And still He offers them salvation.

Pilate is probably the most bold. Even though he caved to their peer pressure, he wrote a note and put it up for all the world to see.

John 19:19-20- And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.

He put this in three languages. One for each of the languages that were predominantly spoken in that area. This made the Jewish leaders angry. They wanted Pilate to change it to say that Christ called himself that, but Pilate wouldn't change it.

John 19:21-22- Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.

The Romans had seen many crucifixions before this one. But, there was something different about this time. While they gambled over his clothes, all of creation cried out for the dying Savior.

Luke 23:44-45- And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

Darkness covered the entire world for three hours during the time of Noon through 3PM. I wonder what was going through the soldier's minds. I guarantee they had never seen this before.

Not only was there darkness, but an earthquake shook the land. At least one soldier understood that this was something different; this man was more than just a Jew.

Matthew 27:54- Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

The Bible never tells us whether this man ever trusted Christ as His Savior, but he was certainly on the right path.

There were also religious people from Jerusalem standing around watching. They were making certain that Jesus died on that cross.

Matthew 27:39-43- And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

They are quoting what Jesus said. They had heard Him speak; they had more than likely seen His miracles. And now they come mocking Him as He hung their paying for their sins.

Again, I can imagine the devil questioning Christ as to whether these people were worth it.

Christ often asked the religious leaders of His day, "Have ye never read?" These men were suppose to know the Scriptures. They should have recognized the signs that Jesus was their promised Messiah!

But, they held their traditions above the Scripture. They were more interested in their position and status. They were so blinded that they even fulfilled the prophecy without realizing it.

Psalm 22:7-8,16,18- All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.  They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

Surely they could have looked around and saw the Scripture being fulfilled! Didn't their words ring in their ears with a familiarity?

I doubt that these men ever repented and asked Christ to save their souls. They heardened their hearts until they were stones that dragged their souls to hell.

Christ's emotions on that day were met with mocking, disdain, acknowledgement, and astonishment. But there are two other types of people there who both loved and adored Jesus.

Mark 15:40-41- There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.

True believers who had followed Him during His earthly ministry stood afar off watching. Their tears didn't go unnoticed by our Savior. He recognized that they didn't understand the prophecy that He was to die for the sins of the world.

I can only imagine the shame He felt hanging there naked in front of them. Or perhaps He felt grateful that they loved Him enough to follow Him this far, not willing to let Him die alone.

These had already believed on Him as their Messiah. And, they would follow Him under a new name "Christian" in the future.

But of all the people who were present, perhaps the one that meant the most was His disciple John.

John 19:25-27- Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

The only disciple to go all the way. He was there during the sham trial and the sentencing. He followed all the way to the foot of the cross and observed everything that went on.

As the firstborn son, it would fall to Jesus to take care of His mother when her husband died. Even in death, Christ fulfilled His obligations. The disciple that followed Him all the way could be trusted to do this.

The emotion that flooded through Him as He passed this job off to His faithful friend must have been great. 

So many different people with so many different perspectives surrounded the Savior that day. Some found comfort and life; some found damnation.

Which do you relate with? 

Are you there mocking, unbelieving that someone besides yourself can save your soul?

Are you like the awe struck soldiers who realized that Christ was more than a mere man, so close to the truth and yet still unweilding? 

Are you weeping for the innocent life that had to die so that you could receive eternal salvation and then goes home content that their eternity is secure?

Or, are you like the faithful disciple who not only sees the Savior and accepts His salvation and then goes out and makes certain that Christ's request followed?

Matthew 28:19-20- Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Revelation 22:10,12- And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.