From the Elder's Pen "Who Represented You At The Crucifixion?" 07/14/02 Past/Future Articles

 A reading of Matthew, chapter twenty-seven, will convey to the reader that there were a number of different types of people around the cross.  We have heard the song that asks, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?”  In a very real sense of the word we were all there in that we were represented by the different kinds of people present on Golgotha.  Human nature has not changed all these years.  Thus, people in our very present disposition and relationship to Christ were there.  Let us now look at some of the characters that surrounded the cross and see if you can see yourself.
 Could it be you were represented by Judas?  Judas betrayed the Lord for thirty pieces of silver.  There are many Judases in and out of Christ’s church.  These people are betraying the Lord for the almighty dollar.  In 1 Timothy 6:10 Paul said, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the truth and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”  This is the reason Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21 that men should not lay up for themselves treasures on the earth!
 Or were you represented by the disciples, and especially Peter?  Following the betrayal of Jesus in the garden we read of the disciples in Matthew 26:56, “...then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.”  In verse 58 of this same chapter it was said of Peter that he followed afar off.  There are legions of people today who have fled Jesus when Christianity got a little too demanding.  Many are not willing to make the sacrifices needed; but yet, they, like Peter, are still trying to follow Jesus afar off by their token service.
 Many are represented by the Roman soldiers.  In John 19:23 we read, “The soldiers, therefore, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat…”  In verse 24 of this same chapter we read that they cast lots for his garments.  These represent the millions who are indifferent to religion.  These people have no interest in their souls.  Many “self-proclaimed” Christians, by living their lives not in harmony with Christ, are not better than the Roman soldiers.  For in Hebrews 6:6 we read that it is possible for one to “...crucify the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame.”
 Yet many people are represented by the Centurion.  After seeing the miraculous events that surrounded the crucifixion of Jesus, he said in Matthew 27:54, “...truly this was the Son of God.”  Many today will make that same confession; but many today, like the Centurion, will not do anything about it.
 It is my hope that you were represented b the godly women and the apostle John and others who stayed with Jesus all the way to the cross.  These represent those who will put Jesus first in their lives.  What about you?  Does Christ have first place in your life?  Jesus said in Matthew 7:24, “No man can serve two masters.  For he will either hate the one and love the other or he will hold to one and despise the other, ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
 Yes, all of us were there.  Who represented you?