Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?

A Good Friday Reflection on Rembrandt and our Central Role in the Crucifixion

Rembrandt, Raising of the Cross (c. 1633) Alte Pinakothek, Munich.

“Underneath that darkening sky, on that one Friday in all of history that saw night twice, He died. In your interest and mine.” - Rev. Dr. Gardner C. Taylor

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all people unto me.” -Jesus, in John 12:32

“Were you there when they crucified my Lord…Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.” - African-American spiritual and hymn

Visual art is a form of communication that can express something that words fail to adequately convey. It is why they say, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” That is, sometimes something very complex and rather exhaustive in language can be more clearly conveyed in one still image.

The long events of Good Friday occur all 4 Gospel accounts: Matthew 27:1–61, Mark 15:1–47, Luke 23:1–56, John 18:28–19:42. How can we grasp in totality the climatic day of Good Friday—the day of Jesus’s crucifixion?

If only God had provided us a corresponding picture book to illustrate to us of the events that occurred that evening. That’d be pretty neat, to say the least.

But, we have all that we need in God’s Word. We also have the gift of history and people who have used their very God-given gifts to convey the truth of His Word and work.

A Moving Image of the Cross

In his painting, “The Raising of the Cross” (c.1633), Rembrandt (1606-1669) depicts the Passion of Christ commissioned by Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange in the early 1600s. In one still oil canvased painting, Rembrandt tells the story of Good Friday.

Jesus is nailed to the wooden beamed cross. There is a criminal being crucified in the background. Soldiers are present leading this state-sanctioned, unjust cruxifixction. Onlookers are off to the side. Rembrandt’s point is taken: it was a public event.

One person, however, stands out in the painting. Take a look at the painting above. Do you notice it? Not only does said person stand out, they simply do not fit.

Right smack dab at the center of the painting is Rembrandt himself assisting the soldiers hurling Jesus up on the cross. It is subtle yet so moving. He depicts himself having a significant role in the crucifixion of our Lord. By him placing himself at the center of this piece of art, Rembrandt rightly recognizes—as should we—that we play a central role in the act of Jesus being heaved upon the Cross.

In order for us to truly grasp the meaning of the work of Jesus on the cross for us, we must see that the event of the crucifixion of Jesus was done by us.

This is why the Apostle Paul wrote:

He who knew no sin became sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21).

And:

He, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Phil. 2:5-11, KJV)

Even so—as we see in one of Jesus’s final words—the Good news is that Jesus died for the very one (us) who crucified Him.

This Good Friday, may we be reminded of the somber events of the Cross by us and ultimately for us. Take comfort in the hymn writer’s words: He could have come down from the cross just to save Himself, He decided to die just to save me.

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What I am listening to on Good Friday?

• Rev. Dr. Gardner Taylor’s moving Sermon Clip, “In His Own Clothes”:

• He Took My Place (Wheeler Avenue BC Mass Choir)

• He Decided to Die (He Would Not Come Down From the Cross)

• In Christ Alone (Keith and Kristyn Getty)