NAILED ON THE CROSS

                                             photo credit: http://christinalangella.com/wp-content/uploads                                                                            /2014/12/Nail-in-cross-istockphoto.jpg

Who came to welcome Jesus prior to His trial and crucifixion?

The lame now able to walk. The blind now seeing. The woman who hemorrhaged for 12 years, now healed. The once-dead. Former demoniacs. 

Likewise in the crowd: probably quite a number among the five thousand who enjoyed Jesus' value meal springing out of five loaves of bread and two fish; plus the mockers, backsliders, unbelievers; and those who just needed some excitement in their lives.    

They must have all sung "Hosanna!" as Jesus entered Jerusalem. They must have marveled at His miracles and came close to tears as He spoke of the Father's love.  

Yet who among them cried, "Crucify Him!" at His trial, and mocked Him so that the Roman soldiers all the more abused Him? 

"I don't know the man!" Peter answered, as he cursed when asked if he knew the Galilean, Matthew 26:74. 

Peter was His friend, one of those who knew Jesus intimately more than the other disciples. Jesus referred to Peter as having received a revelation from God about who He really was. Peter boldly walked on water with Jesus. Peter saw how his fishing boat almost sank with catch so big when Jesus said to put out his net into the water. Peter cut someone's ear to defend Jesus.

Yet Peter swore he didn't know Jesus. 

At the crucifixion, most of His disciples had dispersed, with only a handful left at the foot of the cross.   

Pretty much like you and me.

How many times have I denied Jesus even when I've boldly declared that I am a Christian? Times when I preferred to lie instead of say the truth, or when I found it more convenient to complain or slander because my amigas were doing it anyway, or held my tongue rather than speak out against a wrong-doing---all because I'd rather please men than God?

We're all sinners, and have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), no matter how we claim to follow Jesus or how upright and decent we think we are. 

We all needed to be saved from ourselves.    

No wonder Jesus finished His assignment on the cross---where He nailed all our sins, His precious blood covering all our transgressions. 

Psalm 103:11-13---"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.…"

Jesus, thank you for saving me!