Generally speaking, those who watched Jesus hanging on the cross did not grasp the true message of the cross, but this was no surprise to God. Isaiah the prophet, some 700 years before Christ was born said these words: "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted" (Isaiah 53:4). Yes, they actually thought Christ was being crucified because God was punishing Him!