THEY WATCHED HIM!

Matt 27:35-36 KJV

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.

36 And sitting down they watched him there;

As Jesus strode through Jerusalem all eyes were watching Him. What would this Nazarene carpenter do as he left his trade to moralize up and down the streets and rugged hills? Even those without eyes watched him taking note of the crowd. One cried out “Jesus of Nazareth; have mercy on me” and He did. He spit and made mud and anointed eyes and he came seeing.

He was unorthodox and so the Orthodox watched Him with irritation and disgust while He ignored their traditions in favor of the rabble. Mark 3:2 says: “And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day; that they might accuse him.” Should healing be removed from this day set aside to rest from labor and focus upon God? Should it not rather be the best day for healing? But they watched him so that they might accuse Him. Because they had been offended they lost their power of reasoning.

On the cross Jesus provided some kind of morbid entertainment and curiosity for those who had manufactured his guilt and sentence of death. Sitting down, they watched Him there. Nothing unusual took place. No miracle took place except that one of the thieves stopped his cursing and assumed a curious calm. “He saved others; himself he can not save!” They shouted as those who had felt cheated by the price of their theater ticket but they kept watching.

At the end even death could not rip Jesus from their watchful eyes. They laid him in the grave and set a “watch” because He said he would rise again on the third day. Camping in front of the cold stone, stirring the night fire, the soldiers had one mission and that was to watch.

The world is watching us too! Jesus said: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works , and glorify your Father which is in heaven” Matt 5:16. Today someone is watching you prayerfully, another may be watching you for some answer, yet another is watching you to see if you will make a mistake. They are watching!

Dear Lord, as the world watches me, let them see your wonderful light shining through. AMEN