Previously we learned
that Simon of Cyrene was made to bear the cross on Jesus’ behalf. This reminds
us of the necessity to bear our own cross, to deny ourselves daily and to follow
after the Lord. This is a call to every disciple and not just to the Twelve. Then
verse 22 briefly sums up the journey. Mark was just reporting everything
matter-of-factly. Walking beside Simon of Cyrene, the Lord stumbled His way
down the path of sorrow to Golgotha. It was also called the Skull, because it
was shaped like a bald head. Also because it was associated with gruesome
death. This place was where criminals convicted to the death sentence would be
hanged on the cross. So there they had Jesus fastened to the cross, crucified.
We are told in verse 23 that the soldiers offered the Lord wine
and painkiller to numb His excruciating pain. This was a usual practice and
most prisoners would drink of it. But the Lord had told them earlier in Mark
14:25 that “I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until the day I
drink it anew in the Kingdom of God.” Despite
their kind offer, He refused to drink of it, for He had chosen to drink of the
cup of wrath of God on our behalf. All victims of crucifixion would usually hang
naked and totally exposed, but a loincloth was used on Jesus. Mark tells us
that the soldiers drew lots to decide who gets to keep the different parts of
His garment.
Verse 25 factually said that it was the third hour when they
crucified our Lord. We know that He was scourged and mockingly crowned with a crown
of thorns, and they made Him walk down the way of sorrow to Golgotha from 6.00 to
9.00 a.m. in the morning. Then at 9.00 am they nailed Him to the cross, hoisted
Him up and further mocked Him even as He was hanging midway between heaven and
earth, till it was noon.
On the cross above the head of the Lord, they had fastened an
inscription of the charge made against Him. It read, “They King of the Jews.” Interestingly, John in his Gospel gives us some
other details that Mark had so briefly summarized here. In John 19:19-22, we
are told that Pilate had the inscription written in three languages: Aramaic,
Latin and Greek. The Jewish authority requested a few words to be added to the
inscription. They wanted the inscription to read, “This man claimed to be the
King of the Jews.” But Pilate refused. His answer to them was, “What I have
written will always remain written.” He didn’t know how true his words were. The fact that it was written in three
languages tells us the universality of His reign.
On the cross, Christ not only declares His love for us but
also declares His reign over us. The cross speaks of His love, His Lordship and
now His substitutionary death on our behalf. In the light of all that He had gone
through for us, He not only deserves our total obedience but also our total allegiance.
Listen to how aptly two lines of a hymn say our response to Him should be:
Love so amazing so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
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