And They Crucified Him
Notes
Transcript
The most important moment in all of human history is the crucifixion of our Lord. It is the moment when the sin of all the world was atoned for; the sacrifice that made it possible for sinful human beings to enjoy the blessings of a righteous people. It is the most somber moment and also the most joyous - somber because the prince of life died; joyous because eternal salvation was secured for us. Today we join Jesus as he makes his way to the cross.
When the Wood is Dry
When the Wood is Dry
Now as they lead Jesus away, Jesus would have ordinarily been compelled to carry the crossbeam of his cross, which could weigh as much as 75-100lbs; certainly a healthy man in his 30s could carry it, but not one who had been dehydrated, sleep-deprived, and scourged. The only reason they would compel someone else to carry it for him is if he was unable to carry it himself.
Simon of Cyrene
Simon of Cyrene
So the Romans did what they always did in that case; they picked a random dude who looked strong enough to carry it and made him carry the beam to the execution site; this guy happened to be a Simon from the city of Cyrene. Cyrene is in modern-day Libya in north Africa west of Egypt, so this guy was either a Diaspora Jew or a Godfearing Gentile. It’s most likely the poor guy didn’t intend to get caught up in a crucifixion procession and wasn’t too happy about being diverted from wherever he was supposed to be going.
It’s possible that Simon later became a Christian;
Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross.
Mark tells us that he was the father of Alexander and Rufus. The only reason I can think of that this is relevant is if Simon’s sons became prominent enough in the church that dropping their name would help Mark’s audience identify who this Simon of Cyrene was. Perhaps only Mark’s audience knew them, and church tradition has Mark writing to Rome. At any rate Simon of Cyrene probably wasn’t a follower of Jesus at the time, or even really cared that much about all the hubbub about this Israelite teacher, but his experience might have been what God used to bring him to faith later.
Do not Weep for Me.
Do not Weep for Me.
But the main point of this section is Jesus’ reaction to the women who were mourning for him. Now it’s not that their weeping for him was a problem. They are watching the torture and execution of the Just One, the Messiah. Wouldn’t you weep? I would.
And I don’t think Jesus is trying to make them feel better either. Effectively Jesus’ counsel is that - you think this is bad? Just wait, it gets worse! But Jesus has a supernatural insight into human nature. If Jesus’ comment seems tone-deaf, it isn’t because Jesus doesn’t know what to say; it’s because he doing something other than trying to make them feel better.
But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men,
and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.
So if Jesus wasn’t trying to comfort the women who were crying over him, what was he trying to do? What he is trying to do is redirect their sorrow in a direction that will help them. It’s fine to weep for Jesus when you’re looking at his pain, but it really doesn’t help you. But if they take Jesus’ words to heart, they will be put on a path to the kind of sorrow that will help them.
His reason for saying it will get worse is his proverb in v.31 - if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen in the dry? Anyone who has burned wood knows that green wood doesn’t burn well. When I used to burn wood, I had to stack it at least 6-9 months before I wanted to use it so it would burn well. But what does he mean by green wood? Well, Jesus was then being crucified. He doesn’t deserve it at all and this injustice is obvious to everyone not blinded by hate. Yet they are inflicting this suffering on him anyway. If this torture and pain happens when it is not deserved, what do you think the Romans will do when it is deserved?
Why is there a Blessing on the Barren?
Why is there a Blessing on the Barren?
Jesus drives the point home by describing the pain that will come. Normally, its the young men that die and suffer in war. Women, children, and the elderly are usually exempt. Not this time; there will be total war. The Bible has a strong emphasis on the blessing of children. Universally in the Scriptures, having children is a blessing from God.
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
But right here we have one of the only times when the Scriptures state that having kids is a curse. Why? Because those caught in the Wars of the Jews from AD66-70 would suffer much greater if they had small children. The Romans were killing everyone without distinction, so women who are slower anyway, would be slowed down even further by trying to carry their small children with them, and suffer much greater anquish if caught. So for this unique time of distress, it was better to be childless.
Paul had similar advice for the unmarried of his day
I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—that it is good for a man to remain as he is:
Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.
I think the “present distress” that Paul is talking about is persecution. A family man is going to suffer more from persecution than someone who has no family ties, thus, it would be better to wait until the wave of persecution has passed before getting married. But this is a matter of wisdom, not sin.
Thankfully we do not live in an age of persecution, so this advice is presently not necessary. Though there are a few other situations where this might apply. Someone going overseas into battle who isn’t married yet might be better off waiting until he or she comes home again.
But Jesus’ advice isn’t about marriage, since the event he is talking about does not happen for 40 years. Rather, he wants them to realize that Jerusalem is doomed and therefore they will be ready to join his disciples later. In other words, Jesus is trying to scare them into eternal life.
That’s why he adds that people in general will suffer so much they will want the mountains to fall on them. People will say that in the Tribulation period
and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
But I’m not sure that Jesus is talking about the tribulation here. He has specifically told them to weep for themselves and their children, but the tribulation did not happen either in their lifetime or their kids. No, he is talking about the War of the Jews in AD 66-70. The terrible suffering that happened likely did make people want to be buried alive rather than suffer as they did.
But, of course, the War of the Jews happened a long time ago. The point for us is that as terrible as those events were, there are even worse things coming. Jesus wanted the women of Jerusalem to be ready; how much more does he want us to be ready to avoid the wrath of God which will be poured out on the whole world?
Jesus does not need us to weep for him anymore. He is risen, and ascended to sit at the right hand of God. That’s why our cross over there does not have anyone on it. Weep rather for those who are not ready for his return, and will have to suffer through the Tribulation period even if they repent. Weep for those who do not repent and will die and receive the just reward of their actions.
Father Forgive Them
Father Forgive Them
The Place of the Skull
The Place of the Skull
Golgotha is Aramaic for “place of the Skull,” but there is debate as to where exactly that was. The problem with the traditional site is that it is now a church, so even if it is the original site, it doesn’t look like it anymore. But the reason for the debate is that there wasn’t any interest in the place until the church started wanting holy sites for pilgrims; this was not until the fourth century. That does not mean it isn’t the place, but if it is, they ended up demolishing the hill and the tomb to build this ancient church. In the First century, this was a former quarry that had been turned into a garden outside the city, so it does match the Biblical description, and the tomb of Jesus would have likely been close by, since bodies are heavy and hard to carry.
The other place is called Gordon’s Calvary, after the 19th century British general who thought a different place looked like a Skull, and therefore was the real site of Jesus’ crucifixion. Even if this isn’t the place, since the ancient church didn’t build a church here, it looks more like it. Even there though, the ancient Romans would have crucified people right by the roadside, not on the top of this hill. So there are stairs to go up the hill and see, but Jesus would have been crucified by the side of the road. They’ve paved over a spot at the bottom of the hill for tourists; that’s actually where Jesus would have been crucified if this is the place.
Ultimate Forgiveness
Ultimate Forgiveness
At any rate, it’s Jesus response to his murder that is the important thing. Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. This says several things at the same time. First, Jesus’ statement only makes sense if you believe in the unshakable justice of God. Only someone who felt that God is just in his bones would be able to say such a thing about his murderers as they were killing and torturing him. When most people suffer injustice, they say ‘woe is me, it’s not fair.’ Jesus said - ‘it’s not fair, woe is them.’
Second, Jesus’ statement also assumes the mercy of God. He recognizes the evil that is being done to him, and he does not excuse it or make light of it; instead, he asks that mercy be shown to those who are in the act of killing him; mercy due to their ignorance of the full weight of what they are doing. Jesus claims that by praying he can lessen the weight of their punishment. He can intercede for sinners and get what he asks for.
Third, Jesus recognizes their ignorance.
Now Jesus does not define “they,” but I think it ought to apply to all who were involved - Jew and Gentile. Pilate thought he was crucifying an innocent man; I don’t think he would have agreed to crucify God in the Flesh. That doesn’t make him innocent; he is still guilty because that’s exactly what he did, and because he was manipulated into doing so because of his pride and cowardice. The soldiers thought they were just manning another execution. Three more random criminals, and they have an unpleasant and boring job to do. They do not know that they are crucifying the perfect spotless lamb of God. They really are ignorant in the full sense of the word. The religious leaders are ignorant as well, but this is a culpable ignorance.
“Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
Yet the religious leaders are not ignorant because they could not have known; they are ignorant because they did not want to know. They can’t handle the truth.
The people who cried, “Crucify, Crucify him” did not realize that this one wasn’t the dangerous revolutionary that their religious leaders said he was.
So everyone involved was guilty to some degree or another; they all had a hand in crucifying the Lord; but none of them fully realized the weight of what they did. God factors your knowledge into the size of your guilt.
And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
Fourth, this fulfills prophecy. The Messiah was someone who would intercede for transgressors
Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.
That is, the Suffering Servant would pray for sinners. Jesus did that at the worst possible moment, when the sin they were committing was the greatest sin they could commit again himself personally. But this isn’t something Jesus did merely to fulfill prophecy. How do I know that? Because he is still doing it
Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
If Jesus prayed for his murders merely to fulfill prophecy, then he would stop doing that once the prophecy was fulfilled. But he did not stop. Why does he still intercede for transgressors? Not because he was ticking a box; but because that is his character. In other words, Jesus could pray for his murderers because it is part of who he is - he is a merciful savior. That’s why he still does it when it doesn’t impact prophecy.
Finally, this is a model for us. We who claim to be followers of Jesus must be people who will forgive as Jesus forgave. Perhaps you would say to me, “pastor, you don’t know what they did to me.” You’re right, I don’t. But let me ask you a simple question. Did they murder you by horrific torture? Since you’re listening to me it’s pretty safe to assume they didn’t. Jesus forgave his murderers while they were torturing him. And his followers did the same
Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
So if you claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ, you need to do what he did; namely, you must forgive those who wrong you.
Unconscious Witnesses
Unconscious Witnesses
The point of the next few verses is that the people and events of the Crucifixion are unconscious witnesses to the reality that it really was the death of the Christ.
First is something that would have been standard behavior for Romans soldiers at a crucifixion - they gambled for Jesus’ clothes. Now this is something they would have done every time. All crucifixion victims would have been clothed; all of them would have been stripped of their clothing before being placed on the cross. Clothing was expensive in that day because it was all made by hand, so even the garments of the poor would have been desirable. Matthew and John both cite Psalm 22:18
They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.
as being fulfilled by these actions; while Luke and Mark mention it but don’t specifically link Scripture. But since what the soldiers do was normal, there must be a reason why Luke mentioned that they did something they always do - it’s because it mirrors Scripture.
Now Psalm 22 is in the first person for David. It is his poetic self-refection of how he is being treated; he does not claim any prophetic insight here. However, David was the Anointed King of Israel; that means he is a model for those wanting to discover what they ought to expect a Messiah to be. And what we find is that even the first Davidic King, David himself, was mocked and ridiculed; even David had his garments divided. When did David have this happen? At least once, when David was running from Saul
Saul also sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and to kill him in the morning. And Michal, David’s wife, told him, saying, “If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.”
So Michal let David down through a window. And he went and fled and escaped.
And Michal took an image and laid it in the bed, put a cover of goats’ hair for his head, and covered it with clothes.
So when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.”
Then Saul sent the messengers back to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.”
And when the messengers had come in, there was the image in the bed, with a cover of goats’ hair for his head.
In other words, once Michal’s ruse was discovered, David’s clothes were with Saul’s enemy. And since clothing was just as expensive in David’s day as in Jesus’ day, they would have divided up those clothes the same way they did with Jesus. My point? The humiliation of having your clothes gambled for actually matches what we ought to expect the Messiah to be. So the fact that the soldiers gambled for Jesus’ clothes reinforces that he truly was the Messiah.
Similarly when the religious leaders mock Jesus, they think they are mocking Jesus because his defeat proves he could not be the Messiah. The Messiah was supposed to be a Conquering King, and there is nothing less victorious than being crucified.
All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
“He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”
However, again David is the Model of what they should have expected - He too was mocked and ridiculed for trusting God to deliver him; for trusting that God was on his side. So the rulers thought they had proven that Jesus could not be the Christ; they actually proved that he must be the Christ.
The Soldiers joined in - not because they hate Jesus specifically, but because they are bored, rough Romans used to the suffering and pain they inflict. They are entirely ignorant of the reality that he really is the King of the Jews. Another witness to the truth about what he was.
The final unconscious witness was the inscription; all crucifixion victims had some kind of sign put on their cross, so that passers by would know why this guy had to suffer so much. The entire point of crucifixion was to make it so painful no one would ever want to do something like that again. And Pilate’s choice had unintentionally put the exact reason why Jesus was really there - he really was the King of the Jews, and that is why they were crucifying him.
