It is finished...

 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. ³³ They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). ³⁴ There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. ³⁵ When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. ³⁶ And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. ³⁷ Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.

³⁸ Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁹ Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads ⁴⁰ and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” ⁴¹ In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ⁴² “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. ⁴³ He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” ⁴⁴ In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

 I am Eli, a Roman guard, and I foretold this day weeks ago. I knew things would not end well for this man Jesus. Today, as I hastily made the sign identifying his charge, I felt satisfied that Jesus, the self-proclaimed prophet, was finally under control. No one will proclaim himself a king and get away with it as long as I am guarding the throne. While I always wince at the pain and torture of crucifixion, I am gratified that I helped bring this particular situation to an end. We have argued among ourselves for days about this man. It is finally over, and we can get on with the real business of our work.

The city is still busy with Passover, and for the most part there were not a lot of people at the crucifixion today, we had only three men to put to death. The disciples that usually protect Jesus were nowhere to be seen. A couple of people, one woman who looked like his mother, a few of her woman friends and a noticeably young man were here. They were deeply pained and helpless as the crowds shouted obscenities and jeered him. I felt sorry for them, but the absence of the crowds who joyously followed him earlier in the week, was proof to me that this man was not their king.  Where was their support for him now? I believe things that are not authentic do not survive, so I am convinced this is over, at least until the next misguided soul who thinks he is a savior comes along.  Still, we are all hoping this will serve as a lesson to those who think we Romans have little control.

Although there was great confusion about who Jesus was and whether he broke Jewish law or Roman law, I know the right thing happened in the end. I had a discussion at the beginning of the week, cautioning my fellow guards about the potential of this man to overthrow us.  Both Herod and Pilate weighed in on things, so I am sure if Jesus were innocent, his crucifixion would have been averted by one of them.

In a couple of days, the Passover travelers will be gone, and the city will get back to normal, this will be over and the name Jesus will be forgotten forever. 

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Jesus, every time I fail to stand with you, I nourish an unbeliever’s heart. Forgive me.  Amen.