“When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.” (Matthew 27:35-36, NIV). The NLT reads, “After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there.”
Death by crucifixion was shocking in its horrible cruelty. It was considered the worst form of execution, due to its excruciating pain and public shame. Hanging naked and suspended by one’s arms would cause great difficulty in breathing, and eventually the victim would suffocate or die from the severe physical trauma. It was a horrific and painful way to die.
This being so, can you imagine such a display of indifference and apathy by the soldiers assigned to keep guard over the crucifixion of Jesus and two thieves. For them, crucifixions were just another boring, bloody job that never impressed their minds and hearts as something to ponder.
They had become apathetic to the sight of blood and indifferent to the cries of suffering. And they had learned to distract themselves and escape the boredom of “keeping watch” by throwing dice in gambling games. This would explain why the New Testament scholar, Vincent Taylor says that Jesus’ garments were divided by casting lots, “using the dice by which they whiled away the time.”
How sobering to think that while Jesus was nailed to a cross, soldiers played games with dice while seated at his feet. Here was the darkest and most decisive hour in human history and we find men preoccupied with self-interests.
And so, I think it appropriate to consider the sound of throwing dice as giving evidence of “indifference” and “apathy” and displays a woeful lack of interest, concern, emotion, or feeling. Indifference and apathy not only describe what we see in the soldiers present at Jesus’ crucifixion, but also is evidenced in the shouts of mockery and scorn from many of the crowd gathered to witness His suffering and death.
Each year during passion week, we hear this now familiar story of Christ’s cruel sufferings and death. This is good, for there, in all its ugly horror and painful suffering, lies God’s gift and hope of resurrection from death to eternal life in God’s Kingdom, for us and for all humanity. No matter how much is said and done in sermons, songs, and art forms, we still remain on the edge of a tremendous mystery, that is, the love of God in Christ for sinful humanity. And it is good to be reminded of this awesome gift of love.
Jesus’ suffering is really indescribable, but His love for us is even more so. Added to the physical pain Jesus’ suffered was the full weight of human sin. This was a burden of love that has no parallel. In childlike simplicity we can only but ponder and believe. In the hymn, “There is a Green Hill Far Away,” we sing; “We may not know, we cannot tell, What pains he had to bear, But we believe it was for us, He hung and suffered there.”
However, I fear we too easily cringe at the sight and sounds of Jesus’s crucifixion and allow other things and thoughts to distract and detach our thoughts and emotions from the pain and horror of Jesus’ crucifixion. And so, we hear the story in scripture and song, too casually and with limited emotional and spiritual understanding.
And thus, instead of being drawn closer in relationship to Jesus and toward a better understanding of His death, we become increasingly deaf and dumb in our spiritual awareness and more indifferent about our relationship with Jesus.
What do you believe about this man, Jesus? Is He Lord and King to whom you give unreserved loyalty? Is He your authority in matters of faith and conduct? Is He the “Son of God” and “Savior” of the world? Is He the caring, compassionate one who healed the sick, comforted the hurting, and befriended the outcasts? Is He your Savior? How much do you care about His horrific sufferings in your behalf?
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died,
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them through his blood.
See, from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an off’ring far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
(Isaac Watts, 1707)
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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – April 13, 2022
Ray M. Geigley
Healing Rays of Righteousness 
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