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The Crucifixion - Luke 23:26-42
26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,' and to the hills, ‘Cover us.' 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Lk 23:26–43). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Simon Shares the Burden of the Cross.
Simon was merely an idle spectator, but was compelled to assist in carrying the cross, not from any merciful motives, but to save time. Roman soldiers generally, knew nothing of pity, and the most hardened were of course, detailed to do jobs of this kind.
Jesus Consoles the Women:
Daughters of Jerusalem weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For if they do these things to a green tree what shall be done to the dry?
Jesus Meets his Mother
The tumult incident to our last depicted scene, probably brought Mary at once to her son's side; though all along the terrible journey, the faithful mother and her friends were as near as the soldiers would permit.
Jesus Stripped of His Clothing
This refers to his own clothing. They had taken off the regal robe in which they mockingly decked him, before leaving the common hall.
The venerable face just beyond St. John, at the right as you are looking at the scene, is that of Joseph. The centurion stands in front with commission.
Woman Watch
Thus men had done what they could; and the body of Jesus rested in the earth. Women alone remained by it to mourn. Just who these women were or how many of them, we do not know, only that there were those “which came with him from Galilee.” Matthew tells us that two Marys were there, the Magdalene and another. Mark mentions Mary “of Joses.” Perhaps the mother Mary was among them also in that night and day of grief.
During Friday night their vigil began. On Saturday it was interrupted. Even now that Jesus was dead the priests dared not leave Him in peace. They recalled what His disciples in their terror and agony seem to have forgotten, that Jesus had predicted His Resurrection. Therefore on Friday the chief priests went before Pilate, “Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead; so the last error shall be worse than the first.”
The request was granted; and stern soldiers superseded the loving women as the guardians of Christ's resting place.
This picture is an illustration of the artist concept of the scene.
Luke 23:50-56 & Luke 24:1-12
Jesus Is Buried
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.
On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
The Resurrection
24 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Lk 23:50–24:12). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
