Jesus in the Midst

^“Where they crucified him, and two other with him,

on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.”

(John 19:18)

Is it any wonder that natural minds question who this man was who died such a horrific death between two thieves? How can it be that He is the Son of God, Who came to this earth as a man and walked among men in such humility, to ultimately die a death in which He was numbered among transgressors? Yet He is the Savior of sinners that the Father gave to Him from eternity that He should come and save them being “...obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:8)

Think about the Words, ‘Jesus in the midst.’ They crucified Him, sinners on either side and yet He was none other than JESUS the Sinless Savior in the midst. The apostle Paul declared that He “...made Himself of no reputation.” (Philippians 2:7) One writer called this ‘the Divine stoop.’ Here is the Creator of the Universe, the Eternal Son of God Who came and dwelt (tabernacled) among sinners [John 1:14] that He might save those that the Father gave Him in eternity as their Representative and Substitute, John 17:2.

The self-righteous religionists of Christ’s day condemned Him for eating with publicans and sinners yet, it was for such sinners that He came to earn and establish righteousness for them and lay down His life to pay their horrible sin debt. While the Pharisees justified crucifying our LORD as a vindication of their disdain for Him yet, this is how God purposed that His Son should die that He might be just to justify His chosen ones by blood shed unto the death of His Son. Peter declared in Acts 2:23, ^“Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.”

Our LORD Jesus was the Lamb of God slain in fulfillment of all of the Old Testament sacrifices depicting His one death. While the High Priests delivered up Christ to be crucified, they were delivering up the Lamb of God. While they were exercising their will in contempt for Him, God was accomplishing His will, providing Himself the Lamb, Genesis 22:8. Here He was, Jesus in the midst of them for all to see. He died in their midst as He had lived in their midst, the Savior of sinners. In the end, we see Jesus in the midst of His throne in glory, Revelation 7:17. There He is surrounded by sinners made perfect by His shed blood, redeemed, reconciled, justified and glorified singing, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength and honor, and glory and blessing.” (Revelation 5:12)