Scripture

“He saved others,” they scoffed, “But he can’t save himself! So he is the king of the Jews, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him.”

Observation

On the way to the place of crucifixion, they come across a man from Cyrene called Simon, whom the soldiers forced to carry the cross.

They nail Jesus to a cross, and then the soldiers gamble for his clothes. A sign is attached to the cross that says, “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.”

The people pass by shouting abuse and insults. The leading priests and the elders also mock Jesus. They say. “He saved others but he cannot save himself! He trusted God, so let God rescue Him if He wants Him.”

Application

Crucifixion is a slow and agonising death. The victim is alone, isolated from all human touch. This gives the mockers and haters time and space to further isolate the victim by hurling their insults and mockery

Of course, all of the insults turn out to be ironic.

• The taunt about destroying the temple and rebuilding it in three days was a reference to Jesus’s own death and resurrection.
• “He saved others but can’t save himself,” they said, but His death was exactly what saved others
• “He is the king of the Jews,” but the cross is His coronation.

And so we thank Jesus, the Son of God, for laying down His life for our salvation. We rejoice that His death brings us life.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for enduring the physical, spiritual, and emotional pain of the cross. Your death gives me life. Amen.