The Crucifixion of Jesus

Jesus was taken to a place outside of Jerusalem called Golgotha, where He was nailed to a cross and suffered great physical pain and humiliation.

After the mockery of a trial, Pilate’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s palace and called their entire company together. Stripping Jesus of His clothing, they dressed Him in bright red. They devised a crown from thorns and put it on His head. They put a hollow stick in His hand to serve as a scepter. Then, bowing in mock reverence, they addressed Him, “Honor to you, King of the Jews!” Then they spit on Him and hit Him on the head with the “scepter.” When it was no longer fun, they removed the red toga, replacing it with His own clothes, and took Him out to be crucified.

As was the custom for the condemned person, Jesus began to carry the heavy crossbeam to the crucifixion site. Along the way, they came across a Cyrenaic named Simon and made him carry the cross. When they arrived at ‘Skull Hill,’ they offered Jesus a mixture of wine and perfume as a painkiller. At first taste, Jesus refused it.

The soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross along with two criminals, one on His right, the other on His left. While waiting for them to die, the soldiers passed the time gambling for Jesus’ clothes.

They wrote the “criminal charge” against Him and posted it on the cross above His head: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. People passing by shook their heads and made fun: “Oh, you can tear down the temple and rebuild it in three days? Let’s see some of that power! Son of God, are you? Then come on down from the cross!”

The leading priests and religious scholars participated in the mockery: “He saved others, but He can’t save Himself! The King of Israel could get Himself off the cross. We would believe in Him if He did that! He trusted in God. Let’s see if God will rescue Him now if He even wants Him! After all, He claimed He was God’s Son, didn’t He?”

Passersby, religious leaders, and soldiers all derided Him. If that wasn’t enough, the two criminals being crucified with Him joined in, too.

Mocked.
Rejected.
Numbered with criminals.
Forsaken, despised, naked.
Scourged.
Disfigured.
Heads shaken.
Passersby appalled.
Pierced hands and feet.
Considered stricken by God.
“He trusts God, let Him deliver!”

Although these appear to be descriptions of Jesus at His death, they are actually prophecies about the Messiah, which David and Isaiah wrote hundreds of years before. Jesus fulfilled each one of them in His excruciating, humiliating death that day on the cross.