2. THE CROSS OF JESUS
A. Jesus’ cross is mentioned in all four Gospels (Matthew 27:32ff.; Mark 15:21ff.; Luke 23:26ff.; John 19:17ff.).
1. Pilate ordered that Jesus be scourged (whipped) with thongs (Matthew 27:26).
2. Simon of Cyrene was compelled to carry Jesus’ cross for him (Matthew 27:32).
3. Matthew says Jesus knew his death would be by crucifixion (Matthew 20:19; 26:2).
4. The exact spot of the crucifixion of Jesus is not known. It was somewhere outside the city (Hebrews 13:12), probably beside one of the main roads leading into Jerusalem (Matthew 27:39).
5. Jesus refused the drink offered to deaden his pain (Matthew 27:34).
6. Two other men were put to death at the same time (John 19:18).
p 101 (a) One of them joined in the derision (Matthew 27:44; Luke 23:39), perhaps hoping to gain favour at last by siding in with the rulers.
(b) One appealed to Jesus: ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom’ (Luke 23:42).
7. A sign, indicating the crime for which he was condemned, was placed on the cross (Luke 23:38).
B. The shame
1. Jesus hated the shame: ‘Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God’ (Hebrews 12:2).
2. Jesus’ cross evidently stood rather higher than usual (Mark 15:32, 36).
3. He was insulted: ‘Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” ’ (Matthew 27:39–40).
4. Chief priests, teachers of the law and the elders mocked him: ‘ “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him” ’ (Matthew 27:42).
5. He was naked (John 19:23–24).
6. All this was before his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala (John 19:25).
C. The torture
1. Nothing is said directly about how much pain Jesus must have experienced. This is left to us to contemplate.
2. Roman scourging was so severe that victims often died under it; for one charged with sedition, as Jesus was, it would have been merciless.
3. The nearest we get to experiencing his physical suffering was Jesus’ comment to those who ‘wailed’ for him: ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and your children’ (Luke 23:28).
D. The spiritual suffering
1. This is apparently what Jesus dreaded most (Luke 22:42ff.; cf. Hebrews 5:7).
2. For a time he was not allowed to communicate comforting words to those at the cross, so as to allay their fears and bewilderment.
3. The worst moment was when he felt deserted, even by his Father: ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ (Matthew 27:46).
4. This was the only hint at the time, although nobody understood it, that atonement was taking place (2 Corinthians 5:21).
E. What Jesus said while hanging on the cross.
1. ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing’ (Luke 23:34).
2. ‘When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing near by, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother” ’ (John 19:26–27).
3. ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise’ (Luke 23:43).
4. ‘I am thirsty’ (John 19:28).
5. ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ (Matthew 27:46).
6. ‘It is finished’ (John 19:30).
7. ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’ (Luke 23:46).
Kendall, R. T. (1996). Understanding Theology, Volume One (pp. 100–102). Ross-shire, Great Britain: Christian Focus.