168. Jesus hung on
the cross- Matt. 27:31-38, Mark 15:20-28, Luke 23:26-34, John 19:16-22
-Jesus is led out to be crucified with a procession of
followers mourning and lamenting His plight. Some were hurling insults and
mockery at Him and were pleased to see the Son of Man dying in front of their
very eyes. Simon of Cyrene is an interesting aside to the crucifixion drama as
he is compelled to carry the cross of the Lord for what was probably a good
distance more than likely because Jesus was too weak to go on with this load.
Mark’s gospel even includes the names of Simon’s sons, Alexander and Rufus
(Mark 15:21). From this we may infer that at some point Simon became a believer
and in some way gave testimony to the crucifixion accounts for its written
account by the gospel writers. *Application* Simon of Cyrene was an
illustration to us as believers of Christ’s command to pick up your cross daily
and follow Him (Luke 9:23). This is a load to bear, but it is worth it to know
that we are in partnership with the Lord and doing His will His way. Die to
yourself and follow the Master wherever He leads.
-Jesus was taken outside the city gates to a place called
Golgotha, which means “Place of the Skull (Matthew 27:33, Mark 15:22, Luke
23:33, John 19:17).” Some time later Jerome, translating the Scriptures into
Latin, used the term which we now translate as Calvary for the Skull (Latin for
skull is calvaria).
-Along this Via Dolorosa (the way of suffering, or grief) He
told the women who followed and were lamenting and mourning not to do that over
Him, but for themselves and their children. He foresaw terrible times coming
upon His people prophetically, which is taken up in more detail other passages
of Scripture (Zechariah 12:10-14, Matthew 24:15-22, Luke 23:28-31, Revelation
6:16-17). There are two sites held by tradition to be the place of Jesus’
crucifixion and burial. The traditional site is west of the Antonia Fortress,
built by Herod to oversee the Temple Mount area. It is a steep journey up a
mountain; an arduous task for a man who has been beaten and abused such as
Christ was. This journey ends at what is now known as The Church of the Holy
Sepulchre. The other site is known as the “Garden Tomb” and is north of the
city outside the ancient gates. This place would have been a high traffic area,
was in a garden area near the tomb, had a rock formation cut out of the side of
the mountain that looked like a skull (this is from the building projects
quarried by Herod’s administration). There are convincing proofs that this
could very well be the location of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, but
the exact location is unknown and inconclusive.
-Christ’s inscription read that He was the King of the Jews
from Nazareth, written by Pilate (John 19:19). The Jewish leaders were upset
with this, but Pilate would not change his sign. This may have been a form of
mockery, and it was certainly used as a deterrent to further insurrections by
the populace as a sign of Roman domination and authority. The Lord, in His
Providence, allowed this appropriate message to be displayed as He died for the
sins of mankind upon the wooden cross.
-*Application* Again we are brought to the point of decision
when we read accounts of the Lord’s suffering and pain on our behalf. If you
never have, receive the Lord’s sacrificial death for the atonement of your
personal sins and be set free from the guilt and penalty of separation from God.
Trust in Him and His work on the cross for forgiveness.
Verse to Memorize-
Luke 23:34
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