LUKE 23:26-45 VIA DOLOROSA "The path to the cross He was willing to tread" was a road of sorrows. Pilate had submitted to the pressure of those who wanted Christ crucified when he heard them say, "If thou let this Man go, thou art not Caesar's friend. Whosoever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Caesar." There was no fault, no guilt of any kind that all of the people put together could use to condemn the Lord Jesus Christ. But "Pilate, willing to content the people," "gave sentence that it should be as they required." It is not unknown today that some choose to do what they know is wrong under the pressure of job security, peer pressure, or just simple lack of courage and commitment to do what is right. "Never soul in hell shall burn Who has not had a chance to turn; Whether it be a pagan wild, Or born a Christian's favored child, God will not suffer them to go Unwarned to everlasting woe; For nothing but rejected light Will doom a soul to endless night."
In our minds we can follow the steps of the Lord bearing His cross to "the place which is called Calvary." Every step He made in that journey through those streets of Jerusalem to the place of the skull, was a testimony to the willingness of the Lord Jesus to "seek and to save that which was lost." He "who was numbered with the transgressors" did not make use of His authority or infinite power to alleviate His suffering in any way. Nor did He lighten the load of the cross in any way. He was truly a Man among men even in the sorrowful journey to the place of crucifixion. As "the green tree," life-giving and full of blessing, He comforted the women of Jerusalem who were weeping in pity for Him. He was not looking for pity for Himself. He pitied them as He looked at them in the "dry tree" of a nation of people who had forsaken the God of their fathers and had turned to religious formalism and rejection of their Messiah.
That mournful procession is a reminder to us that here in our day, we too as a nation have rejected the God of our fathers. We have set aside the moral compass of the Word of God and have substituted it with anything that brings us financial profit and increases our worldly pleasure. Forms have taken the place of truth in our religious gatherings. Pleasure, or at least that which gives a feeling of comfort, has taken the place of faithful preaching and warnings to those who persist in following their own chosen course in life rather than God's. Whether we like to admit it or not, we have started down the road of our own Via Dolorosa and the sorrows of sin will soon overtake us - and we will have no one to blame but ourselves.
With Simon carrying the cross (probably the end of the main beam) behind Jesus, the public humiliation of the Savior caused a variety of responses by those who followed Him in that great crowd. There would probably have been disciples interspersed with the crowd, who were sad and grievously disappointed in the outcome of the trial. There were exultant enemies who would think they were rid of a false Messiah. They were not looking for the suffering Messiah the prophets wrote about. Pilate would have remained where he was, guiltily relieved the "King" of the Jews was now gone, even though his conscience would disturb him. Soldiers going about their duty without fear of a battle would make mockery and laugh at the difficulty the condemned prisoners would have carrying crosses through the streets of sorrows. Reactions to the preaching of the cross, the preaching of the Gospel and the preaching of Christ crucified still vary when people hear the message. Some mock and turn away. Some are awakened to their sin and need but go no further for a variety of reasons. Some weep under conviction of sin but go no further. Thank God for those who follow all the way to Calvary and see there "The Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." That convicting path of sorrow leads to the place of forgiveness and mercy.
It would be inappropriate to try to put into words what the Spirit of God does not say when it comes to the act of Christ's crucifixion. "There they crucified Him" is sufficient to impress us with the importance of what was done. "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto Me." Everyone has a sense of their own need and sin. Everyone who seeks the Lord will find Him. There is no formula for the act of salvation. Mercy is there and available to every person who seeks for God with all their heart. Every testimony of God's saving grace is different because every person comes individually as a sinner to Jesus. The forgiveness the Lord prayed for on the cross was that judgment would not fall on those who were there who crucified Him. What lost sinners need is mercy. The soldiers who gambled over His clothing, the watching crowd, the mocking leaders and the two thieves all needed mercy for salvation, but they needed the forgiveness for the evil done to the Lord in order to survive the wrath of God. The prayer of the Lord Jesus was answered and judgment was withheld. Forgiveness for what they did to Him was then granted. We may never know what has been withheld from happening to us because of the intercessory prayers of the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit on our behalf.
The written accusation over the Lord Jesus Christ may have been the testimony about Him that awakened the conscience of one thief. Words coupled with attitude and actions often speak truth to hearts awakened by personal guilt. There were no struggling or harsh words from the Savior when He was nailed to the cross. "As a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth." There were no bitter cries of hatred, no evidence of animosity in the Savior. The meekness and lowliness of Christ was there to be seen even when He was crucified. As the one thief took the yoke of Christ upon him, he found rest to his soul. The greatest test of character ever put upon a person was put upon the Lord Jesus when He was at Calvary. There was no deceit, no wrath, no guile in Him. There was grace, mercy, gentleness and forgiveness obvious to those who were there. In spite of being despised and rejected, mocked and humiliated, wounded and hated - He maintained the dignity of His Person and demonstrated His love. The thief was assured of paradise as the Lord spoke peace to His soul. Some may wonder where they went that day. The scriptures say that paradise is up, and is where God is.
Luke's account of the events at Calvary are abbreviated in a sense, because the point of his Gospel is to give an account of the Person of the Son of Man. The overriding darkness that covered the earth was a testimony to the immensity of the work the suffering Savior accomplished when He suffered to bring us to God. Some things are best left hidden lest our speculation lead us into imagination. Whatever happened was enough because the Lord Jesus knew when "all things were now accomplished." When that was done, visible and audible testimony happened miraculously to show us the way to God is opened. The veil was rent from top to bottom. We are now "able to come to God by Him." Thank God for being "accepted in the Beloved."
Follow those footsteps - see where they lead Hear those feminine cries - learn what they mean Watch the faces of those who observe - what do they show One man is turned to follow - sharing the load
Watching from afar - reddened, tear-stained, remorseful eyes Watching from nearby - curiosity in those standing by Watching from close up - curled lips and human sneers Watching from the foot of the cross - ones who Jesus endears.
Listen to the sounds - nails piercing human flesh Listen to the voices - cursing the One who blessed
Listen to the words - "Father, forgive ... they know not what they do" Listen to the plea - "Remember me" ... hear words of comfort too.
Follow the hardened - they gambled for His clothes Follow the haughty - in mockery they lift their nose Follow the fearful - they still are far away Follow the loyal - at the cross they intend to stay.
Determine what to do - follow in spite of fear Choose who you will serve - the place to serve is here Commit to obey - the Lord who died now lives Follow Him - all glory that results are His.
"Father, I am not wanting to intrude into places I should not go. So, I will read and meditate on what is written and seek to avoid paying attention to dramatic imaginations when it comes to the place called Calvary. 'There they crucified Him' is enough for my meditation to focus on for a long time - particularly the word. Him" in whose name I pray. Amen."