Crucifixion

John 19:17-30 So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Here they crucified him, and with him two others–one on each side and Jesus in the middle. Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, “They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.” So this is what the soldiers did. Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 

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       Crucifixion is an ugly way to die.  It makes other methods of capital punishment look somewhat civilized.  To die on a cross was a cruel, slow, humiliating, painful end to a life.  The Romans used crucifixion as a deterrent.  It was a clear message to the enemies of Rome, "If you get out of line, or incite rebellion, we will make you pay dearly."
    How Jesus ended up in the crosshairs of Rome is still somewhat of a mystery.  He was an innocent man, and now He was carrying a cross through the dusty streets of Jerusalem on His way to a hill called Golgotha.  It seemed like an inglorious way to end a ministry that was full of possibilities.  Jesus preached the truth.  He healed the sick.  Raised the dead.  Fed the hungry.  The punishment for His goodness was to be death on a cross.
       How did Jesus end up in such a position?  It was sin and then again it was sin.  Jesus was to be punished for the hubris of man.  The depravity of the Jewish leaders, to defend their power by accusing an innocent man reveals their collective fallen nature.  Their actions towards Jesus only proved that they needed the Savior that Jesus was.  Jesus also needed to fulfill the Father's plan to atone for the sin of mankind.  In Jesus' own words, "I did not come to be served, but to give my life as a ransom for many."
       Jesus paid the price for our sin.  His hands and feet were nailed to the cross and then the Roman soldiers lifted the cross up into its place.  Pilate had a placard placed on the cross that read: "King of the Jews."  The promised Messiah of Israel fulfilled His mission, He said, "It is finished" and He gave up His spirit.  It seemed like a tragedy, but it was anything but...  In the words of Isaiah the Prophet: 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” saith the Lord. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Questions to Consider:

1. Why was the cross necessary to the work of atonement?
2. What are some of the emotions that you feel as you remember Christ's death on the cross?
3. Do you identify with any of the "players" involved in the death of Christ?  (Judas, Peter, Mary, John, Pilate, the Soldiers, the mocking crowd)  ​