The Road to Calvary

Easter is coming – that glorious day, the day we celebrate Christ’s

resurrection.  

But today I’d like to talk about the time before that day.  This was the time of confusion, pain, suffering and sadness. 

Like so many times in our lives, before joy, there is pain.  And sometimes, before joy, there is a decision that must be made and a stand that must be taken. 

This is the way it was for Jesus. 

The steps that led Jesus, the Messiah, to Calvary began in the dawn of time when a beautiful angel decided he wanted to be God.  That angel, Lucifer, was so puffed up with pride that he no longer deserved to be in God’s presence.  He took others with him and a war began – the war between good and evil, between God and Satan. 

That fallen star, Lucifer, convinced God’s children, His perfect creation, to sin.  Just as Lucifer took other angels with him when he left God, so he took Adam and Eve with him into the darkness of sin. 

But God loved His children and designed a way to bring them back into the light.  That way was the road to Calvary - the dark, sad road that would, at last, lead to everlasting light – to salvation – to eternity.

This week we remember the final steps that Jesus took on that pitiful road.  We remember His entry into Jerusalem – Palm branches strewn on the road – people singing at the top of their lungs of the Messiah that they believed Jesus to be. 

Luke 19:37 tells us,

“ When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

. . . As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it, and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 

Jesus felt sadness and deep sorrow for the city that was known as the “City of God,” sorrow for the people who expected a military king to rescue them from the clutches of Herod, instead of a heavenly King who would rescue them from the clutches of Satan.

During that week Jesus would gather His disciples together for the Passover meal and at that gathering He would give them instructions on how to love, not only each other, but all of the children of His Father. And Jesus would wash their feet to show them an example of what a servant should be like. 

Jesus would give them a supper to help them always remember what He was going to do for them very soon.  We celebrate that supper even today – it is what Christians call, “The Lord’s Supper.” 

And after the meal was over, Jesus and His disciples walked to a garden.   

This would be a garden of prayer and the garden of sorrow.  In that place the disciples would struggle with Satan.  Jesus asked them to watch and pray with Him, but Satan wanted them to sleep.  The evil one didn’t want them to see their suffering Savior.  Satan won that struggle and the disciples slept while Jesus sweat drops of blood, knowing what was in store for Him.  He prayed earnestly to His Father for Himself, for those disciples and for each one of us.

John records the words of Jesus, Jesus was praying for His disciples and He said to His Father,

“I pray for those you have given me.  They are yours.  I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world.  I’m coming to you, Holy Father, so please protect them by the power of your name.  . . My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one. . .”

Then Jesus goes on to say,

       “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. . . .  Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

Think of that - He was suffering, knowing what was going to happen to Him, and He loved us so much that He took that time to pray to His Father for you and for me.

Then Jesus rose, woke His disciples, and went to the place that He knew He would meet the minion of Satan – Judas, who would betray Him. 

The most amazing thing happened there – We read about it in Matthew 28

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived.

With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. . . .   Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”

Then the men in the crowd stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.  With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said,  . . .  “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?  But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

 . . . Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me.  But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.”   At that point all the disciples deserted him and fled.

And now on His road to Calvary.  Jesus would be tried - unfairly.  He would suffer great physical agony.  He would suffer the agony of separation from His Father, and He would die on that cross. 

Fortunately that was not the end of the story.  In a way, it was only the beginning.    

My words cannot express the suffering of our Savior, so I won’t try.  But my words can try to express the gratitude that I feel that He was willing to suffer for our sake, for yours and for mine. 

I tried to put my poet’s mind on what Jesus might have written about that road – the road to Calvary, and I wrote;

The night that Satan thought he had me,

the night he’d planned his victory,

the night his servant Judas kissed me,

began the road to Calvary.

Rough arms came, reached out, and seized me.

My dear friend drew his sword to fight.

“Put back your sword,” I said to Peter,

“It has to be this way tonight.”

Oh don't you think I could withstand them

without your help if I should try.

Oh don't you know ten thousand angels would be at hand

with just a cry.

And then I asked of those who seized me,

Why did you come with clubs and swords

while every day I sat among you

teaching in the temple courts?

And on those days did you arrest me?

No, now you come in evening’s hour.

For Satan's way is always darkness

and you -  by hating, give him power

Oh don't you think I could withstand you

at any time if I should try.

Oh don't you know ten thousand angels would be at hand

with just a cry.

But lead me on the way to Calvary.

We'll take the road together now.

I'll walk along - no need to drag me

for I won't use my heavenly power.

Oh I could call ten thousand angels

if I wanted to be free.

But my love for you will keep me silent,

until I die upon that tree.

My love for you is what will hold me

upon that cursed redemption tree.

Diane

All quotes from the New International 

Version of the Bible.  Poem by Diane 

Gruchow © 1997