Chapter 11.

The Cross

 

 

Again, Jesus Was Battered.

 

A band of Roman soldiers were ordered to crucify 3 men, 2 criminals and Christ.  Before beginning the death march to a hill called Calvary, they tormented the 3 victims.  Matthew describes the vicious attacks on Jesus ...

... the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off        from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.  (Matthew 27:27-31)

And, Mark says ...

... the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.  (Mark 15:16-20)

Note: Matthew gives the color of the robe used in the mocking as scarlet and Mark gives it as purple.  Probably, it was a faded, old wrap from a rag box that could be described either way.  Interestingly, this band of soldiers wove another thorny crown for Jesus.  What happened to the one that had been smashed into Jesus’ skull after He had been scourged?  Was it destroyed when the tormentors smacked Jesus’ head with the reed?  Or, had a devilish persecutor conjured up a more injurious design for it?

 

 

 

The Grim March Began.

 

Luke says ...

... they led him away ...  (Luke 23:26a)

And, John declares ...

... he bearing his cross went forth ... 

(John 19:17a)

 

 

 

Jesus Faltered

Beneath the Weight Of the Cross.

 

The tortures inflicted on Jesus had sapped His strength.  He had lost blood while He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and when He had been scourged and when the thorns had been driven into his scalp.  He was impeding progress.  The Roman soldiers compelled a man named Simon to drag Jesus’ Cross to Calvary.

... they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.  (Luke 23:26b)

Matthew discloses ...

... as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.  (Matthew 27:32)

And, Mark relates ...

... they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross. 

(Mark 15:21)

 

 

 

Wounded And Exhausted,

Jesus Paused To Predict

the Destruction Of Jerusalem.

 

Many of Jesus’ followers merged into the slow, dreadful march to Mount Calvary.  They loved Jesus.  They thought He was a prophet or the Son of God or the Messiah.  Their hopes for a wonderful future with Jesus were shattered.  Many of the women in the train wailed and lamented.  They were very sad; sorry to see Jesus in such dreadful physical condition, headed for an horrific death on the Cross.  But, Jesus knew His Crucifixion had to happen.  It was God’s perfect way of dealing with mankind’s pervasive sin problem.  So, looking past His miseries, He worried about those mourning His impending demise.  He knew His death would trigger a radical change in the future of Israel and Jerusalem.  He issued a somber warning to His friends.  Luke says ...

... there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say ...

... to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.  (Hosea 10:8)

For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?  (Luke 23:27-31)

Christ’s Crucifixion would revolutionize the relationship between God and mankind and especially the relationship between God and the Jews.  Christ’s Ultimate Sin-Sacrifice would obsolete the sin-sacrifices made on the Temple altar.  It would be so perfect, it would never need to be repeated.  Also note, the rulers of Israel were forcing the murder of God’s “Only Begotten Son”.  Consequently, Israel and Jerusalem would be destroyed.  The 40 years following Christ’s Crucifixion would be filled with violence.  Israel would revolt against Roman rule, and Rome would send vast armies into the Holy Land to stomp out the rebellion.  Finally, in 70 A.D. Rome would thoroughly vanquish the Jews.  They would flatten and bury Jerusalem and sell the Jews they could catch into slavery throughout the world.

 

John the Baptist had predicted this tragedy even before Jesus began His ministry.  Speaking of Israel, he had said ...

The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.  (Luke 3:9)

Here, Israel is represented as a tree not producing good fruit.  Israel’s rejection of their Messiah would fell that tree.  It would be green timber for a spell.  But, 40 years later, in A.D. 70, it would be dry, and it would be thrown into the fire.  Jesus was asking, “If the Romans will execute Me, knowing I have done nothing deserving death, when the tree is green, what will they do to Israel when the timber is dry?” 

 

 

 

Two Condemned Criminals

Were Forced Into the Death March.

 

Luke says ...

... there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.  (Luke 23:32)

 

 

 

The Dreadful March Halted

Atop Mount Calvary.

 

The marchers halted atop a notorious hill outside the city walls.  It was called “Golgotha”, meaning “the place of a skull”, by the Jews.  Apparently, if one stood back from the hill at a certain spot, one of its limestone cliffs looked like a human skull.  The Latin phrase for “the place of a skull” is “Calvariae Locus”. So, from the time the Gospels were translated into Latin, the hill has most often been called “Mount Calvary”.  Mark says that the crowd halted ...

... when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary ... (Luke 23:33a)

John says the procession moved ...

... into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha ...

(John 19:17b)

Matthew declares the march ended ...

... when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull ...  (Matthew 27:33)

And, Mark discloses ...

... they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.  (Mark 15:22)

 

 

 

Jesus Refused To Drink

a Pain-Killing Potion.

 

With merciful intent, someone offered Jesus a pain-killing potion.  Probably, it wasn’t one of His executioners.  They were inclined to abuse and torture Him.  Perhaps, it was one of the mourning ladies who had followed Him to Mount Calvary.  The drink was a mixture of “hard” wine and myrrh.  Matthew calls the alcoholic wine “vinegar” and the myrrh “gall”.  Here “gall” is used in a generic sense, meaning something very bitter.  But, Jesus refused the drug.  He chose to bear the Cross with full consciousness.  Matthew says ...

They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.  (Matthew 27:34)

And, Mark relates ...

... they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.  (Mark 15:23)

 

 

 

Roman Soldiers

Crucified Christ.

 

The Romans removed Jesus’ outer garments and laid Him  on His Cross.  With thick ropes, they strapped His arms to the cross-beam and His legs and torso to the vertical shaft.  Intense pain flooded Jesus’ body as His raw, flogged backside was pressed to the rugged timbers of the Cross.  Then, the soldiers nailed His hands and His feet to the wooden beams with large, iron nails.  Each drop of the heavy hammer sent searing shocks through Jesus’ limbs and body.  Each thud of the hammer jostled the thorns that had been driven into His scalp.  Jesus gasped for breath and strove to retain consciousness.  Then, as a pair of soldiers guided the foot of the Cross into its post hole, several others hoisted the head of the Cross until, suddenly, it dropped into the ground with great force.  Every nerve in Jesus’ body was jangled.  But amazingly, Christ did not cry out.  Long before Jesus came to Earth, the prophet Isaiah had been given a vision of the Crucifixion.  He wrote ...

He [Jesus] was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.  (Isaiah 53:7 NIV)

Assuming his readers would know of the horrors of crucifixion, Luke simply states ...

... there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.  (Luke 23:33b)

John discloses ...

... they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. 

(John 19:18)

And, Matthew declares ...

... they crucified him ...  (Matthew 27:35a)

 

 

 

Pilate Nailed

a Controversial Caption

To the Cross.

 

John says ...

... Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.  (John 19:19-22)

 

 

 

Jesus Asked the Father

To Forgive His Executioners.

 

Jesus prayed to the Father.  He asked Him to forgive those who had a part in His Crucifixion who did not know what they were doing.  Luke relates ...

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do ...  (Luke 23:34a)

 

 

 

The Soldiers Cast Lots

For Jesus’ Coat.

 

The 4 soldiers guarding Jesus, gambled for His outer garment, just as David had predicted a thousand years before Christ’s Crucifixion.  John says ...

... the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots (Psalm 22:18). These things therefore the soldiers did. 

(John 19:23-24)

Matthew discloses that they ...

... parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. 

(Matthew 27:35b)

Mark relates ...

... when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.  (Mark 15:24)

And, Luke states ...

... they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 

(Luke 23:34b)

 

 

 

Jesus Was Crucified

About 9:00 A.M.

 

Mark discloses ...

... it was the third hour, and they crucified him.  (Mark 15:25)

 

 

 

The Soldiers

Nailed the Caption

Over Jesus’ Head.

 

During the march to Calvary, the caption that Pilate had written was tacked to the Cross.  This was a common practice.  Such captions told onlookers why the “criminal” passing before them was to be executed.  On Mount Calvary, the troops nailed the caption to the Cross over Jesus’ head.

... sitting down they [the soldiers] watched him there; And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.  (Matthew 27:36-37)

And, Mark states ...

... the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.  (Mark 15:26)

 

 

 

Jesus Was Flanked

By 2 Criminals.

 

As Isaiah had predicted, Jesus was grouped with 2 criminals as He was executed.

Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.  (Matthew 27:38)

Mark declares ...

... with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors (Isaiah 53:12).  (Mark 15:27-28)

 

 

 

Many Of Christ’s Enemies

Filed Past His Cross

And Mocked Him.

 

The only thing that kept Jesus on the Cross was His love of mankind.  When one sins, he incurs a “sin-debt”; he deserves to die and spend eternity in Hell.  But, Jesus so loves mankind that He volunteered to pay the “sin-debts” of all who put their trust in Him.  In effect, He says to us, “Give Me your sins.  I’ll forgive them and give you My righteousness.  I’ll die in your place, save you from Hell, and welcome you into Heaven.”  Yes, He could have saved Himself, but He stayed on the Cross to save you and me.

... the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 

(Luke 23:35-38)

Matthew states ...

... they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.  (Matthew 27:39-43)

And, Mark declares ...

... they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, Save thyself, and come down from the cross.  Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe ...  (Mark 15:29-32a)

 

 

 

Also,

the 2 Crucified With Christ

Mocked Him.

 

Early on, the 2 thieves echoed the vicious condemnations aimed at Jesus.

... they that were crucified with him reviled him.  (Mark 15:32b) 

And, Matthew declares ...

The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.  (Matthew 27:44)

 

 

 

But,

1 Of the Thieves

Repented And Was Saved.

 

Luke says ...

... one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.  (Luke 23:39-43)

What a contrast!  One man died “railing” at God.  The other confessing his sins, acknowledging that Jesus was his Lord, and asking Him for help in the afterlife.  Jesus gave the believer hope.  He promised, “Before the sun sets, you and I will be standing side by side in Paradise.”

 

 

 

Absolute Darkness

Enveloped Planet Earth

For 3 Hours.

 

At noon, God shrouded the planet for 3 hours.  There was a “plague of darkness”, like that described in Exodus 10:21-23, when Moses called down a “plague of darkness” on Egypt.  It was a “darkness which may be felt”.  The Egyptians “saw not one another, neither rose any from his place”.  Torches and candles could not be lit.  Every existing flame was extinguished.  Awe and fear were palpable.

 

So, the day Christ died was very memorable.  It was the “day of preparation” for the annual “Feast of Unleavened Bread”.  The Jews were to eat their Passover Meals at sunset.  But, without light, they could not move about safely.  They could not buy or sell.  They could not cook.  For 3 hours their activities were on hold.  And, Luke says that during this blackout “the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.”  When daylight returned, the “Holy of Holies”, the innermost chamber of the Temple, stood exposed, the heavy veil hiding it having been torn asunder.

 

Why had God doused every source of light?  He was about to transfer all the sins of all believers of all times to Jesus.  So, when Jesus died, bearing all those sins, He would pay-off the sin-debts of each of those believers, leaving each of them sin-free and Heaven-bound.

 

During this dark period, Jesus became the final Sacrifice Victim of the ancient “animal-sacrifice system”.  For millennia, believers had selected pristine lambs and goats and other clean animals to serve as sacrifice victims.  They had laid their hands on the heads of those animals and asked God to transfer their sins to them.  Then, when they had offered their animals to God as sin-sacrifices, their sins had been forgiven.  Those sacrifices were valid, but their effectiveness was temporary. 

 

Full and permanent forgiveness of sins came with the Sin-Sacrifice of God’s “Only Begotten Son”, the Perfect Sacrifice Victim.  Jesus was, and is, the “Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world”.  His Sacrifice was so effective that it need never be repeated.  Even today, sinners can reach back through time and space and transfer their sins to Jesus and ask Him for forgiveness.  In his first general epistle, John says  ... 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (1 John 1:9)

 

So, during this heavy darkness a massive transfer of sins was made.  All the sins of deceased believers were laid on Jesus.  My sins and your sins, even the sins we are yet to commit, were transferred to Christ.  As Paul says in Second Corinthians ...

... God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. Then, in exchange, he poured God’s goodness into us! 

(2 Corinthians 5:21 The Living Bible)

 

We cannot comprehend the suffering this exchange wrought on Jesus.  Yes, His body was in overwhelming, physical pain, but far worse was the horrific agony He felt as myriads of sins were poured into Him.  He became guilty of every sin every believer has ever done or will do.  He went from being sinless to being “Sin Personified”.  He writhed and buckled under the load.  God the Father did not want anyone to see His sufferings.  Even He turned away.  He blotted out the scene. 

... it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.  And the sun was darkened and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.  (Luke 23:44-45)

Matthew states ...

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.  (Matthew 27:45)

And, Mark discloses ...

... when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.  (Mark 15:33)

 

 

 

Jesus Died Alone

For You And Me.

 

About the ninth hour, as daylight returned, Jesus exclaimed, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means “My God, My God, Why hast Thou forsaken Me?”  Some bystanders did not hear Him correctly.  They thought He was calling for the prophet Elijah to come and save Him.  Actually, He was expressing His extreme loneliness.  The immense load of sin He was bearing  separated Him from the Father. 

... about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.  (Matthew 27:46-49)

And, Mark states ...

... at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias. And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.  (Mark 15:34-36)

 

 

 

Jesus Entrusted His Mother

To John, the Apostle.

 

John discloses ...

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.  (John 19:25-27)

 

 

 

Jesus Declared That

the Transfer Of Sins To Himself

Was Complete.

 

John states ...

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is Finished ... 

(John 19:28-30a)

 

 

 

Jesus Committed His Spirit

To His Father’s Will.

 

Jesus made a final exclamation ...

... Jesus cried with a loud voice ... 

(Mark 15:37a)

Matthew discloses ...

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice ...  (Matthew 27:50a)

And, Luke relates ...

... when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit [Psalm 31:5) ...  (Luke 23:46a)

These last words of Christ are a recitation of a portion of Psalm 31:5.  In that verse David said ...

Into thine hand I commit my spirit ...

Notice that the word “commit” in the Psalm is replaced by the word “commend” in Luke.  When the King James Bible was compiled, the 2 words were synonyms.  Today, they are not, so most modern translations of Luke use the word “commit”. 

 

To understand what Jesus said, we need to re-consider the fact that Jesus was comprised of 2 natures.  The human aspect of Jesus did not want to go to the Cross; the Divine aspect of Jesus was eager to fulfill His mission, dying as the Ultimate Sin-Sacrifice to pay-off the sin-debts of believers.  As Jesus drew His last breaths, He loudly proclaimed, “Father, I am putting aside My human nature.  Henceforth, I commit My Divine Nature, My Spirit, to being perfectly aligned with Your Will.”

 

 

 

Jesus Gave Up the Ghost.

 

Luke declares ...

... having said thus, he gave up the ghost.  (Luke 23:46b)

Matthew discloses ...

... [He] yielded up the ghost.  (Matthew 27:50b)

Mark states ...

... [He] gave up the ghost.  (Mark 15:37b)

And, John says ...

... he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.  (John 19:30b)

 

 

 

The Temple Priests

Discovered the Torn Veil.

 

Matthew states ...

... behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom ... 

(Matthew 27:51a)

And, Mark says ...

... the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.  (Mark 15:38)

 

The fact that the veil secluding the “Holy of Holies” was ripped from top to bottom implies that it was torn by a force from above.  God was indicating that His relationship to mankind was radically changed by the Crucifixion of Christ.  Under the Old Jewish Covenant, God dwelt in the Temple, just as He dwells in Christians today.  His throne room there was the innermost chamber, the “Holy of Holies”.  It was hidden behind a thick, multi-layered veil.  Only the High Priest could visit God there, once a year, on the annual “Day of Atonement”.  The High Priest would enter the inner sanctum bearing incense and a cup of blood from animals that had been offered on the Temple altar as sin-sacrifices.  Inside, he would sprinkle the incense and the blood on the furnishings of the room.  In prayer, he would ask God to forgive the sins of the Jews. 

 

By tearing away the veil, God indicated that the Old Jewish Covenant was obsolete.  The New Christian Covenant would be much different.  Any believer would be able to approach God, if they came to Him through faith in Christ.  Jesus said ...

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 

(John 14:6 NLT)

 

The author of Hebrews teaches us that Jesus is the High Priest of the New Covenant.  He took His own blood into the throne room of Heaven and secured forgiveness of sins for all who trust in Him.  His Sacrifice on the Cross erased all the sins of all believers of all times.

... since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.  (Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT)

Hallelujah! The veil is gone.  We who believe can visit God at any time.

 

 

 

The Earth Quaked

And Many Saints

Arose From Their Graves.

 

Matthew states ...

... the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 

(Matthew 27:51b-53)

Christ’s Crucifixion was the most important event in human history.  Its significance was emphasized by the worldwide “plague of darkness”, an earthquake, and the resurrection of many saints.  As Lazarus had been raised from the dead before the Crucifixion, a group of saints were revived as Jesus died.  We wish we knew more about these precious souls.  Matthew does not give us much information about them.  He seems to say they lingered about their tombs until Easter Sunday and,  then, entered Jerusalem to resume their lives with their friends and families.

 

What a frenzied day Easter Sunday would be.  Roman soldiers and the Temple guards would be combing Jerusalem and its environs for the body of Jesus.  Citizens would be repairing buildings and tombs damaged by earthquakes.  Rumors that Jesus had risen from the dead would be racing about.  And, many who had died and had been entombed would be seen circulating through the city.  

 

 

 

Some Of the Soldiers

Became Believers.

 

Luke says ...

Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.  (Luke 23:47)

Matthew relates ...

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. 

(Matthew 27:54)

And, Mark states ...

... when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.  (Mark 15:39)

 

 

 

No Bones of Jesus Were Broken,

But His Side Was Pierced.

 

John, the Apostle, warrants that he saw 2 predictions from the Old Testament come to pass.  He was still at Calvary when a special death squad arrived.  The chief priests had persuaded Pilate to hasten the death of the men on the crosses.  At sunset, the first day of the week-long “Feast of Unleavened Bread” would begin.  That day would be a special Sabbath, and based on the Laws of Moses, the priests argued that the victims of the crucifixions must be removed from their crosses by sundown.  They knew that if the legs of the victims were smashed, the men would not be able to lift their bodies to catch a breath.  Therefore, they would quickly suffocate.  The death squad broke the legs of the 2 who were crucified with Jesus, but when they came to Him, He seemed to be dead already.  So, they did not break His legs.  To be sure He was dead, one of the soldiers shoved a spear up and into Jesus’ side, piercing His lungs and His heart.  As John explains, the deeds of the soldiers fulfilled 2 Old Testament prophecies ...

The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.  And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken (Exodus 12:46, Numbers 9:12, Psalm 34:20).  And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced (Zechariah 12:10). 

(John 19:31-37)

The Israelites had been instructed not to break the bones of their Passover Lambs.  Similarly, the ancient Scriptures had predicted that the bones of Jesus, “The Lamb of God”, would not be broken.  Also, the Old Testament prophet, Zechariah, had prophesied that when Jesus returns to Earth to establish His rule over the planet, that those who demanded Christ’s Crucifixion and those who carried it out will, in Christ’s words  ...

... look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. 

(Zechariah 12:10 NIV)

 

 

 

Bewildered,

Many Of Jesus Followers

Lingered And Watched.

 

Luke says ...

... all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.  (Luke 23:48-49)

Mark states ...

There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem. (Mark 15:40-41)

And, Matthew declares ...

... many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedees children.  (Matthew 27:55-56)

 

 

 

Pilate Gave Joseph of Arimathea

Permission To Bury Jesus.

 

Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin, but he opposed the murder of Jesus.  Mark discloses ...

... when the even was come, because it was the  preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.  (Mark 15:42-45)

Luke states ...

... behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.  This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.  (Luke 23:50-52)

Matthew declares ...

When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.  (Matthew 27:57-58)

And, John remarks ...

... after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave ...  (John 19:38a)

 

 

 

Joseph And Nicodemus

Took Jesus From the Cross.

 

John says ...

... He [Joseph] came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.  (John 19:38b-39)

 

 

 

Joseph and Nicodemus

Prepared Jesus’ Body

For Burial.

 

John says ...

Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.  (John 19:40)

Luke states ...

... he [Joseph] took it down, and wrapped it in linen ...  (Luke 23:53a)

Mark relates ...

... he [Joseph] bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen ... 

(Mark 15:46a)

And, Matthew declares ...

... when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth ...  (Matthew 27:59)

 

 

 

Jesus’ Body Was Laid

In Joseph’s Tomb.

John says ...

Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. 

(John 19:41-42)

Luke relates ...

... and [they] laid it [the body] in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.  (Luke 23:53b-54)

Mark discloses ...

... and [they] laid him {Jesus} in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.  (Mark 15:46b)

And, Matthew remarks ...

... [they] laid it [the body] in his [Joseph’s] own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.  (Matthew 27:60)

 

 

 

A Cluster Of Christian Women

Watched the Entombment

Of Christ.

 

Luke relates ...

... the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.  (Luke 23:55)

Matthew states ...

... there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. 

(Matthew 27:61)

And, Mark says ...

... Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.  (Mark 15:47)