Soldiers of the Cross

The Life of a Soldier.

A Soldier is Enlisted.

We have dealt with the qualifications of a good soldier - and “A Soldier of the Cross.” Unfortunately there were other soldiers; those who seemingly exhibited few or none of the good and moral qualities that a soldier should exhibit. Yet in all fairness they were likewise “Soldiers of the Cross.” These were men whose vocation was that of fighter and enforcer; whose income was compensated by the Roman government. As such, they gave answer to the powers of Rome; to Herod, to Pilate.

A Soldier Knows his Enemy.

We first identify these men as they were in the cloak of darkness, hoping to overcome, to subdue their enemy; this Jesus, an insurrectionist who would overthrow the sovereignty of the Roman government and make himself king of the nation of Israel!

A Soldier Believes in a Cause.

But some thirty-three years before, another Herod the king “was exceedingly wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof from two years old and under” Matt. 2:16. He had hoped this child, identified by the wise men as Him who was born King of the Jews,would be among them. Obviously he wasn’t and Herod’s scheme failed. Now these soldiers would do what their fathers were unsuccessful at doing: find, apprehend, and terminate the child who had now become a man and who was known to be King of the Jews!

A Soldier is Equipped for Battle.

“Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. . .Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, and led him away to Annas first” John 18:3,12,13a. These soldiers came into the presence of the Light of the world with lanterns; with weapons” (I suppose they were unaware of Isaiah 54:17: “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper!” The remainder of the verse may well be addressed to the chief priests and Pharisees: “and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.” Observe the dialogue: “Whom seek ye?” “Jesus of Nazareth.” “I AM (he).” They went backward and fell to the ground. (They should have fell forward on their faces in repentance and faith.)

“The “band” which Judas “received” evidently signifies a detachment of Roman soldiers, which Pilate had granted for the occasion; the Greek word means the tenth part of a legion, and therefore consists of four or five hundred men. . .As Christ was to die for sinners both of the Jews and Gentiles, so God ordered it that Gentiles (Roman soldiers) and Jews should have a hand alike in His arrest and in His crucifixion!

Exposition of the Gospel of John, A. W. Pink.

“Then led they [Jews and Roman soldiers] Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment; and it was early; and they themselves [Jews] went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the passover” John 18:28. Remember, Peter did go in; “And the servants and officersstood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them” John 18:18.

A Soldier is Endowed with Courage.

Jesus was led before Pilate; but he, unwilling to condemn the innocent declared, I find no fault in him. “Pilate. . .sent him [Jesus] to Herod. . .And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to haveseen some miracle done by him. Then he questioned him in many words; but he answered him nothing. . . And Herod with his [soldiers] men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves” Luke 22:8,9,12.

Herod wanted to see Jesus; not to behold a Savior; not to repent of his sin; not in order to fall at His feet in worship - He was desirous (I would compare Herod with Eve: “And when the woman saw that the tree was “good” for food. . .and a tree to be desired to make one wise. . .” Gen. 3:6.) Again, he wasdesirous to see him; to have seen some miracle done by him. With his many words (questions) Herod was desirous of “wisdom,” and he wanted to be entertained. Christ was to him no more than a magician; and what a spectacle! to have a miracle “performed” before the throne for his delight! But this defiant Jew offered no respect to the Roman tyrant. The chief priests and scribes were ever at hand vehemently accusing him. In a “show” of strength (actually, cowardice, fear and embarrassment,) Herod the great Commander-in-chief, led his mighty men of war into battle against this “would-be-king-of-the-Jews.” (Such courage and leadership is to be commended and deserves reward!) Pilate and Herod, previously at enmity with one another, on that day, were made friends! “Fowl of a feather flock together!” (Matthew Henry). At enmity against God? Yes! But bonded together in friendship! Strange bedfellows. . .

A Soldier Trusts his Leadership.

“And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection” Mark 15:7. Barabbas was a revolutionary leader, and along with his “soldiers” was charged with crimes against the Roman government: he would steal and murder in his attempt to fight against that authority that had overtaken the Jewish nation. The cry of the people (provoked by the high priests;) “Release Barabbas; crucify Jesus!” As implied here it seems that they would rather follow a murderer and an insurrectionist who would fight for Israel, than this man,who taught of the Kingdom of Heaven, of which they had no particular interest.

“And so Pilate, willing to content the people. . .delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified” Mark 15:15. The prophesy of Isaiah is brought to pass: “I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting” Isa. 50:6.

A Soldier Conducts Himself Honorably.

“Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: ands they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him” Matt. 27:27-31. cf., Mark 15:16-20.

“And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, [a civilian; neither Jew nor Roman] who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross” Mark 15:21. A Soldier of the Cross! And God honored him by naming both he and his sons in the scripture!

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?. . .” “They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws. . .For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. . .They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture” Psalm 22:1,13-18.

A Soldier Goes Beyond the Call of Duty.

And they crucified Him. . .these Soldiers of the Cross. “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him. . .they parted his raiment. . .they mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself” Luke 23:33,36,37. “Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water” John 19:32-34. A solemn epilogue: “They shall look on him whom they pierced” John 19:37b.

A Soldier is a Sentry.

The entombment: three days later; the descending of the angel of the Lord from heaven, who rolled back the stone. “And for fear of him the keepers [to watch or guard; it is not defined as to prevent an escape] did shake, and became as dead men” Matt. 27:2-4. It is as John described himself upon seeing Christ as he was exiled on Patmos: “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead” Rev. 1:17. Did these keepers, soldiers of the tomb see the resurrected Christ. . .?

A Soldier is Recognized for his Service.

“And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, saying, Say ye, his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day” Matt. 28:12-15.

A Soldier Finishes Well.

Let us take note that three years before, the forerunner of our Lord, John the Baptist, came preaching repentance. He called for fruits of repentance from the people. “And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?” Luke 3:10. “And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages” Luke 3:14. Thus did John give some simple guidelines for the soldiers to follow.

Amazing! “Do violence to no man?” And they scourged Jesus with the whip or “cat of nine tails” as some would relate it; platted a crown of thorns and put it on his head, spit on him, plucked out His beard, smote him on the head with a reed. . .and they nailed Him to the Tree. “Neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages?” The counsel gave the soldiers much money; they took the money; they perjured themselves; they falsely accused the disciples. . .these “Soldiers of the Cross.”

The Events Surrounding the Crucifixion - A Time of Struggle

Christ went to meet Judas, the servants and officers of the Jews, and the band of Roman soldiers. Hesubmitted Himself into their hands. He was led before Annas. He was led before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin. He was led unto Pilate. He was led unto Herod. He was led back to Pilate. He was led to the whipping post. He was led to Calvary. This entire scene was one of struggle. Judas struggled to betray Him and then reverse his betrayal, ending in self destruction. The soldiers struggled, falling backward to the ground in their attempt to arrest Him. Peter struggled to follow Christ and yet denied Him three times. Annas, Caiaphas and the other Jews struggled to find reason to convict and condemn Him. Pilatestruggled to free himself from passing sentence upon the Lord. The only one who struggled not; who remained in control; who was at peace - was the Prince of Peace! At peace, because He was in complete submission to the Father’s will. At peace, because his heart was set on redeeming and reconciling us to His Sovereign.