[As Jesus goes to the cross, ] A large number of people followed him. (Luke 23.27, NIV)

Jesus always had no shortage of “followers.” Some were even said to “believe on him.” (See John 2.23 – 25 or John 11.45, for example.) Who is in this crowd? Maybe some of the same from the triumphal entry? Maybe they were expecting something spectacular? Like Popeye eating his spinach, Jesus would suddenly be infused with power, turn on the Romans who were herding him to his death, kill them, and start a revolution? And they didn’t want to miss it? But when Jesus died?

Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Father, I surrender my Spirit into your hands.” And he took his last breath and died…The crowds that had gathered to observe this spectacle went back to their homes, overcome with deep sorrow and devastated by what they had witnessed. But standing off at a distance were some who truly knew Jesus, and the women who had followed him all the way from Galilee were keeping vigil. (Luke 23.46, 48, 49, Passion Translation)

All along I have been contrasting those who “truly knew Jesus” from those who just watched. I think at least some of the crowds that “gathered to observe this spectacle” were expecting a come-from-behind victory. They were still looking for the wrong kind of Messiah.

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. (Matthew 16.21, NIV)

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53.5, 6, NIV)

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2.24, NIV)