Years ago public executions were a form of entertainment. People use to go out to be entertained by the execution of some criminal. Well, I’m glad that law has been changed. Can you imagine watching somebody die on a cross? Crucifixion certainly has to be the worst form of death anyone could have conceived.

Here’s what Matthew has to say about our Lord’s crucifixion. In Matthew 27:35, “And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, ‘They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.’ And sitting down they watched him there;” Spectators at the crucifixion; gamblers at the crucifixion.

I wonder where you and I stand with reference to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Suppose you had been sitting down and watching Him. What would you have seen? Well, you certainly would have seen a suffering Savior. When our Lord died on the cross, He did not die a victim; He died a Victor. They did not murder Him. He laid down His life, a suffering Savior who bore upon His body the sins of the world. As I see these soldiers gambling, I wonder if they realized they were doing something for God. They were fulfilling Old Testament Scripture. I’m sure they had no idea of Psalm 22:18.

Even when men were doing their worst, God was fulfilling His own Scriptures. You see the cross of Jesus Christ is the culmination of so much that was written in the law and the psalms and the prophets. Well, people still sit down and watch Him. They contemplate a cross. They contemplate the death of Jesus. But it’s not enough to sit down and watch. We must stand up and be identified with Him. Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20). “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Galatians 6:14). Today are you only a spectator or have you taken your place with the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you taken up your cross? Are you following Him?