“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.” Luke 23:33.

THIS TREMENDOUS STATEMENT in the Word of God gives us the divine account of the greatest event that ever took place in the universe, an event that was planned in the heart of God before creation (1 Peter 1:20). This event has drastically changed the lives of millions on earth, and it will be the theme of heaven’s song throughout the countless ages of eternity (Revelation 5:9). Calvary – the place where they crucified Him, the Saviour of mankind.

How then does Calvary affect us today? – Come and see!

A PLACE OF HONEST APPRAISAL

“Then said Pilate…I find no fault in this Man” (Luke 23:4). Being God, the Lord Jesus could not sin! Scripture testifies that He “knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21); He was “without sin” (Hebrews 4:15); “In Him is no sin” (1 John 3:5); and “Who did no sin” (1 Peter 2:22). The Lord said, “The prince of this world (Satan) cometh, and hath nothing in Me” (John 14:30). There was nothing in Him to respond to the temptations of Satan. Truly, He was the Lamb “without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19); otherwise, He could not have been a suitable sacrifice for our sins.

How different is God’s testimony of the human race. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

A PLACE OF PROFOUND IGNORANCE

As soldiers gambled at the foot of His cross, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Peter declared, “Ye denied the Holy One and the Just…And killed the Prince of life…through ignorance ye did it” (Acts 3:14,15,17). However, ignorance is no excuse in God’s eyes! Christ’s blood was upon them and they were guilty before God. Peter said to them, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19). Dear soul, your sins nailed Christ to the tree! You may prefer not to hear or think about it, but ignorance of this solemn fact in no way alters your position or excludes you from guilt. “Guilty before God” rings out on the eternal page of Holy Scripture (Romans 3:19).

A PLACE OF INTENSE HATRED

“And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this Man” (Luke 23:18). The Lord Jesus reveals man’s heart, saying: “They hated Me without a cause” (John 15:25). He was despised and rejected of men (Isaiah 53:3). Why? It was simply because He was the Light of the world, “and…men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved” (John 3:19,20).

God condemns “the pleasures of sin…the lust of the flesh…the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (Hebrews 11:25; 1 John 2:16). These things are all of this world. Man loves the world but hates Christ, simply because God condemns him for his lustful desires. What is your position – a hater of sin, or a hater of Christ?

A PLACE OF DEEPEST SUFFERING

At noonday, the sun refused to shine and darkness prevailed! Crowned with thorns, bleeding, bruised, and nailed to the tree, the blessed Saviour suffered agonies we could never comprehend! Unseen by the human eye, God’s hand smote Him there. “It pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief” (Isaiah 53:10). Christ prophetically exclaimed, “Thy wrath lieth hard upon Me, and Thou hast afflicted Me with all Thy waves.” (Psalm 88:7). Finite minds can never comprehend the infinite sufferings of Christ at the hand of God. Oh, dear soul, it was all for you! Look at Him agonizing, bleeding, and dying because of your sins! “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for (us) the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

A PLACE OF SOLEMN DECISION

“What shall I do then with Jesus?” (Matthew 27:22) well may be your cry. A thief died on each side of His cross; one went to paradise and the other went to hell. One died in unbelief saying, “If Thou be Christ, save Thyself and us” (Luke 23:39). The other feared God and acknowledged Him as his Lord; “ Lord, remember me…And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:42,43). Words of assurance from the lips of the Saviour were his – he was saved! Not because of what he was, but in spite of what he was!

Friend, you too, can be saved by God’s grace. “How long halt ye between two opinions?” (1 Kings 18:21). Turn from the world and look to Christ now. He died for you! Receive Him and be saved.

“But God commendeth His love
toward us, in that, while we were
yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
(Romans 5:8)