With Easter quickly approaching, now more than ever, we should keep our eyes fixed on the cross.  As the apostle Paul writes in I Corinthians 2:2, we should resolve to know nothing “except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”  For in Christ, we have redemption.  In Christ, we have freedom.  In Christ, the whole world is brought back into harmony and made right with God.

As an Easter people, we are called not only to kneel at the cross, but to take up our cross and follow after the Risen Christ.  And we are called not only to follow Christ, but to lead others in doing the same.  With our words and with our lives, we should be asking the world, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?”

There are three things I want you to notice about this question.  First, it shows direct engagement with the world.  When we ask, “Were you there,” we are beginning a dialogue with someone for the purposes of evangelism – spreading the good news of   Jesus Christ.  You and I are called to share the love, to make disciples, to reach our world for Christ.  If everyone in your circle of friends is already a believer, it may be time to expand your circle of friends.

The second thing I want you to notice about this question is the personal nature of it: the person asking the question refers to Christ as “my Lord.”  When we reach out and spread the Gospel, we’re not just throwing Christian tracts at random passersby; we are inviting fellow human beings, created in the image of God, to become part of the family of God and join us in the journey of following Christ.

Lastly, I think it’s important to note that when we say “they crucified” Jesus, the word “they” includes you and me.  We’re the ones who put Jesus on the cross; it was our sins that held him there.  In his humanity, Jesus died on the cross 2000 years ago.  In his divinity, Jesus exists outside of time and space.  As such, he was able to reach out and absorb the sins of the whole world – past, present, and future – into his body, dying once and for all who believe.

This Easter season, share the story of Jesus with your friends, co-workers, family members, and neighbors.  Tell them of the Savior’s love, and tell them your own story of encountering Christ.  Center on the crucified Christ, and lead others in doing the same.