Matthew 27:32-44
As they were going out, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon, whom they forced to carry his cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”) and offered Jesus wine mixed with gall to drink. But after tasting it, he would not drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided his clothes by throwing dice. Then they sat down and kept guard over him there. Above his head they put the charge against him, which read: “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.” Then two outlaws were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are God’s Son, come down from the cross!” In the same way even the chief priests—together with the experts in the law and elders—were mocking him: “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the king of Israel! If he comes down now from the cross, we will believe in him! He trusts in God—let God, if he wants to, deliver him now because he said, ‘I am God’s Son’!” The robbers who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him.
The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible® http://netbible.com copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
COMMENT & QUESTIONS
Jesus had eaten the Passover with His apostles on Thursday night. He had spent much of that evening praying in the garden. Then in the early hours of Friday, he was brought before the Jewish council, then before Pilate. Then after sunrise they crucified Him. Jesus would have been mentally and physically weak.
In what ways was Jesus mocked while on the cross?
They mocked Him because they thought He had failed. They believed that the King was meant to be powerful and mighty, yet they saw a broken and powerless man dying on the cross. The taunted Him by saying that He should come down from the cross.
Would these have been hard for Jesus to hear? What would Jesus have been thinking while he heard this?
The crucifixion of Jesus was not a sign of His weakness, but a sign of His strength. Jesus was giving His life in self-sacrificial love. If He was acting in self-interest, He would have no reason to stay on the cross and endure that suffering. Jesus must have been thinking about His love for others - even those who were standing and mocking.
PRAYERS
Give thanks that Jesus endured such hostility and hatred for you and I