The theme for this issue of the magazine is “What Happened at Calvary” and of course tremendous things did happen there on that day. However, it is also interesting to note that there were things which did not happen. These, just as the others, were under the supreme control and guidance of God. Let us discover some of them.
NO FAULT WAS FOUND
Looking for faults in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ is like looking for an invisible needle in a haystack—a waste of time! I have never met anyone who even looked for such a needle, never mind find one, and doubt I ever will. No fault existed in Him, yet that did not stop men from searching. The Jews generally, the scribes and Pharisees particularly, and Pilate individually all sought vainly for a fault. Finally, Pilate announced, “I find no fault in this man.” Pilate was a skilled interrogator of men and he really did his best to come up with something—anything—but he could not, and it is one of the few things to his credit that he testified as he did. That has not stopped many others from continuing to try. Some are even obsessed by it, yet all are frustrated because no fault exists. The search for faults would be much more fruitful if Pilate, the malefactors, the Jews, the Romans, even the disciples were put under the microscope, but it is hopeless to persist in the effort to find fault in the Lord’s Christ. We, as believers, rejoice in this fact that God’s Son is demonstrated to be perfect in every respect. He is God indeed. Should any fault ever be found, our salvation would be in jeopardy. None was, nor ever will be—glory to God! It did not happen.
THE TITLE THAT WAS NOT CHANGED
A man due to be crucified was normally led to the place of execution carrying his own cross, and upon it, or upon him, hung a title announcing his crime. The title that Pilate wrote for the Lord Jesus Christ was, “This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” To this the Jewish leaders objected vehemently. They were outraged that Pilate had outwitted them and by so writing had deliberately insulted the Jewish nation. Having been successful in getting Pilate to change his mind regarding decisions taken during the trial, they resolved to try again—and they did. They insisted that the title be changed, minimally as far as words were concerned, but hugely as far as truth was concerned, to read, “He said He was King of the Jews.” But Pilate had had enough! He categorically refused to do so. The title stood and would not be changed. Of course it was correct. He is King of the Jews; He was born such and He died such, and one day He will demonstrate that He is King of kings and Lord of lords. Attempts to change this were doomed to failure. God would not allow it. “Change the title,” they cried, but it didn’t happen.
THE TUNIC THAT COULD NOT BE TORN
Some say that the seamless tunic worn by the Lord Jesus Christ had been made for Him by Mary, His earthly mother. Whether or not this is so, it is certain that He wore one on that fateful day. It was general practice, after a crucified victim died, for all his belongings to be distributed among the soldiers or bystanders. On this occasion the same arrangement was being followed even while the Lord was yet alive. Having shared out His other clothing, there remained one piece—the tunic. “Let us not rend it,” said the soldiers, and they proceeded to raffle it among themselves. Thus, it was not torn into four pieces. Indeed, it could not be torn. The Old Testament scriptures had predicted, “they parted My garments among them and for My vesture did they cast lots.” Whatever else happened that day this rending could not. God forbad it. The soldiers really had no option—the scripture must be fulfilled. It did not happen.
THE SUN THAT DID NOT SHINE
The Lord Jesus was crucified around 9 AM in the morning but from noon until 3 PM, when the sun was normally at its brightest, on this day the sun did not shine at all. As a result there was a great darkness during which dread time “God made to meet upon Him the iniquity of us all.” When the wickedness of men peaked in rebellion against Christ, the sun refused to shine. This had never happened before. It was not just that it became cloudy and light dimmed. The sun was covered and all light failed. Yet men then, and still today, treat this dreadful spectacle highlighting the viciousness of mankind as simply an error of judgment on the day. Another time, another place, they say, and it would not have happened. This is a lie. Even today it would happen. The heart of man is “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked,” and still is. The sun which should have been at it zenith did not shine at all for three hours at Calvary. It did not happen.
THE LEGS THAT WERE NOT BROKEN
The Romans favored crucifixion as a means of punishmen because by this method they had control over the time of death. They could decide to leave the victim hanging on the cross for days until he slowly and inexorably died, or if they wished to hasten death they broke his legs so that he could not use them to lift himself up to breathe. On this occasion the fanatical Jews demanded Pilate that the legs of all three should be broken. Pilate agreed, soldiers were briefed for the grisly task, and the legs of both thieves were broken. But, coming to Jesus, they saw that He was already dead and so they did not break His legs. For over thirty-three years in their attempts to kill Him they were too early (His hour had not yet come); now, praise God, they were too late! We well know that He had said earlier, “No man taketh My life from Me.” He died willingly, and of Himself laid down His life in His own good time. Again, the scriptures had predicted that “a bone of Him shall not be broken.” None was. It could not be so. The legs of the thieves were broken and thus they died at Rome’s bidding. In spite of the orders to the soldiers, God over-ruled and His legs were not broken.
THE BURIAL THAT DID NOT HAPPEN
It was planned that the Lord would be buried in a common grave. This would mean that with His belongings already scattered and with no marked grave, all trace of His life would have disappeared. Such an arrangement would suit many who reject Him. But like so many other of men’s plans, this did not happen either. At the last minute, with only very limited time remaining before the onset of the Sabbath, help arrived from a most unlikely source—a member of the Sanhedrin. Joseph of Arimathea, with help from others, took Him down from the cross. Likely as He had been hammered on, so now He would need to be hammered off. Wrapping the body in linen cloths, they hastily buried Him in a tomb Joseph had recently prepared for himself. Again, Old Testament scripture predicted such an event and, while the plan was that He should be interred with the wicked, He was actually “with the rich in His death.” The plan of His enemies for the burial simply did not happen. Heaven had other plans— and so it was.
THE TOMB THAT WAS NOT SECURE
Joseph’s tomb had everything to provide top security. It was hewn out of a piece of solid rock, thus having only one entrance and exit. That was barred by a great stone moved to its mouth and perhaps needing quite a number of men to maneuver it. In turn this was sealed with the official seal of Caesar and four groups of four soldiers took turn to stand guard outside it twenty-four hours a day. The instruction given by Pilate: “Make it as sure as you can,” and that certainly was effected. But, on the morning of the third day—in spite of the stone, the seal and the soldiers—He rose from the dead, and exited the tomb, leaving all the security still in place! Later, an angel from heaven moved the stone away to demonstrate that He had indeed risen from the dead; it truly was an “out-resurrection.” The tomb was supposed to be secure but it did not happen. The lesson from all this is that while many important things did happen at Calvary, others—mainly the plans of men—did not happen because an authority greater than the Sanhedrin or Rome was in control. God is still in control today, and no one and nothing can move successfully against the Lord’s people contrary to His will, not even the gates of hell. We are safe with Him.
Written by Roy Hill