I believe the first question anyone could ask upon his first encounter with this intriguing theme will be: Why Jesus in the center? Well, you may not be wrong at all to give a holy query to a chosen theme for a program of this nature . But the Scripture is crystal clear on WHY JESUS HAD TO BE IN THE CENTER AT GOLGOTHA!
Let’s expatiate more on this as I carefully and systematically unfold the five(5) major reasons why Jesus(or the cross of Christ) had to be in the CENTER with the other two criminals on His crucifixion at Golgotha, also translated as the place of skull.
FIVE ( 5 ) REASONS WHY JESUS WAS IN THE CENTER AT HIS CRUCIFIXION :
John 19:18 (NKJV) reads ” where they crucified Him , and two others with Him , one on either side , and JESUS IN THE CENTER “
Again, why was our Savior not found on the either side(left or right side) of the other two criminals but IN THE CENTER?
Well, the following reasons clearly spell out why our Messiah had to be in the center!
1 . JESUS WAS IN THE CENTER TO FULFILL PROPHECY :
( Isaiah 53:12; 1Tim. 1:18; 2 Pet. 1:20-21; Mk. 15:27-28)
Isaiah, the messianic prophet, prophesied that the Savior to come will be numbered with the transgressors( sinners)( See Isa 53:12d). His prophecy though authentic, accurate and spirit-inspired did not specify the exact position or location of the coming Messiah’s CROSS with the said transgressors. But the New Testament, which best explains the Old Testament and gives a better and clearer picture of the shadow( ie. The old Testament) revealed candidly through the Apostle John that, the Savior was to be IN THE CENTER of the other two criminals( See Jn 19:18)
Isaiah’s prophecy about the crucifixion and the death of Christ with the transgressors poignantly came to pass in the process of time. Therefore, I decree and declare that every prophecy of scripture spoken over your life and destiny shall surely come to pass in Jesus name.!
2 . JESUS WAS IN THE CENTER TO BEAR THE SIN OF MANY .
( Isa. 53:12;Heb. 9:27-28; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 6:23)
Isaiah 53:12 reads,”…And He was numbered with transgressors, and HE BORE THE SIN OF MANY ,…”
Isaiah prophesied that the coming Messiah will be crucified with transgressors and that He will bear the sin of many at His crucifixion. So, Jesus was crucified on the cross to bear or crucify all our sins. The apostle John said His cross was to be situated IN THE CENTER upon His crucifixion at Golgotha. This was done so He could hold up the sins of the world which had fallen apart.
IN THE CENTER OF THE CROSS, He gladly exchanged His righteousness for our glaring sins, so that we could become the righteousness of God in Him. (See 2 Cor. 5:21).
You are therefore declared righteous, not by your works but through His death IN THE CENTER OF THE CROSS ! Hallelujah!
3 . JESUS WAS IN THE CENTER TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THE TRANSGRESSORS !
Isaiah 53:12 again reads, “…And He was numbered with transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, AND MADE INTERCESSION FOR THE TRANSGRESSORS .
The blameless, spotless and guiltless Jesus had to BE IN THE CENTER OF THE CROSS to make intercession for us, the transgressors!
His presence on the cross at Golgotha was to continue His everlasting and unchanging priesthood in the school of INTERCESSION. Since He always lives to make intercession for us. (See Heb . 7 : 24 – 28 ).
My dear friend, be assured and glad today that someone is fervently interceding for you and His name is JESUS! He started this intercession way back AT THE CENTER OF THE CROSS and He is still interceding while seated at the right hand of God. Therefore, ” who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. ( See Rom. 8:33-34)
4 . JESUS WAS IN THE CENTER OF SO CAN BE THE CENTRAL OR THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN YOUR LIFE . (Jn. 19:18; Matt. 17:8, Heb. 12:1-2)
Whom do you consider to be the most important and the most powerful person in the entire Bible? Is it Abraham? Is it Noah? Is it Elijah, Daniel, Isaiah or the prophet Ezekiel? Or is it the apostle Paul who is believed to have written the 2/3 portion of our Bible? Or it is Peter, whose shadow could heal the sick.
Well, it’s none of these! The central figure in our Christian life and Bible is JESUS CHRIST. No wonder His CROSS WAS SITUATED IN THE CENTER AT GOLGOTHA. Glory!!!
Similarly, even in the world of football, the most important position on the pitch is not the defense. Neither is the forward or striking line but in the MIDFIELD( IN THE CENTER).Often times, teams with the weakest midfield lose their matches and the opposite is true!
CHRIST OUR MIDFIELDER is not weak, feeble and incapacitated but was at all point tempted and yet never succumbed to the sins and pressures of life. Therefore having been PERFECTED, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him( See Heb. 5:9)
Who is therefore the most important person in your life? Whom do you consider to be the central figure in your life? Is it your mum or your Dad? Is it that your rich uncle in abroad? Or is that your girl or boy friend? And I guess it’s not your job too!
Beloved, the cross of Jesus was IN THE CENTER so He could become THE CENTER OF YOUR LIFE. Accept Him into your life and heart today and you will be glad you did.
Always remember Matthew 17 : 8 ,” When they had lifted up their eyes, they SAW NO ONE BUT JESUS ONLY .”
See Jesus only( and not Elijah or Moses or even the three disciples He took to the mount of transfiguration) but JESUS and JESUS only.
Finally,
5 . JESUS WAS IN THE CENTER TO BE THE HOPE OF OUR GLORY !
( Col. 1:27; 1 Cor. 15:12-22)
What is the hope of the Christian? Is it to get saved, speak in tongues, do the work of the ministry and die and evaporate into thin air? Or is it to be buoyantly rich, build houses and mansions, buy luxury vehicles, marry, produce and reproduce and peacefully get into the grave? No Sir!
I love what the apostle said and it reads, ” If IN THIS LIFE ONLY we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable” ( See 1 Cor. 15:19)
My friend, if all our hope in Christ is in this transient life, then the scripture says, we are the most people to be pitied in this life! Mercy!!
So then, what is the hope of the Christian? Our hope as Christians is in HIS RESURRECTION ! Because Christ rose from the dead, it gave us the full assurance of our hope in Him. For if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty and you are still in your sins. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep! Hallelujah!
What then is the point here? It is that, Christ is in you by faith. And He is specifically in your HEART ( which is the central part of your human anatomical body).
Therefore, when Jesus was SITUATED IN THE CENTER AT GOLGOTHA, He was symbolically and metaphorically situated IN THE HEART OF ALL WHO WOULD BELIEVE IN HIM…. Glory!
And if Christ is in your heart, you have hope. The hope that one day when you die, you will rise again just as He rose from the dead. That is our HOPE OF GLORY!
And like Jesus asked Martha, “….Do you believe this?” ( See John 11 : 25 -26)
May God bless us all as we seek to forever make JESUS THE CENTER OF OUR LIVES! Amen!
Author: Pastor James Quayson
