Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
June 24, 2019
Commentary
Jesus was led into the courtyard of the governor’s official residence that morning. The soldiers gathered a band of about six hundred men (v. 16). They put a purple robe on Him and made a crown of thorns, pressing it onto His head (v. 17). Then they mocked Him, struck Him, and spit on Him (vv. 18–19). After, they removed the robe and put His own clothes back on Him (v. 20), treating Him with cruelty and deep disrespect, showing the depth of human sin and rejection toward the Son of God, who willingly endured suffering to save us.
Jesus was expected to carry His own cross, but He was too weak from His suffering. So they forced Simon of Cyrene to carry it (v. 21). Simon was from North Africa, and his sons, Alexander and Rufus, are mentioned, likely known in the early church. He was made to serve by compulsion. Perhaps he had come to Jerusalem for Passover with great hope, yet now he carried the cross of a condemned man, not knowing the full meaning of what he was part of. Calvary stands at the center of history and eternity. The cross was not an accident, but part of God’s eternal plan. Scripture says Jesus is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. From the beginning, God had planned salvation through the sacrifice of His Son, showing His love and purpose for all people.
They crucified Jesus, cast lots for His clothing (v. 24). The time was the third hour, about nine in the morning (v. 25). Jesus was crucified between two criminals (vv. 27–28). Three crosses stood that day: one man died in sin, one died to sin, and Jesus died for sin. Even in suffering, God’s plan of redemption was being fulfilled through His Son, bringing hope, forgiveness, and eternal life to all who believe in Him.
Application
Jesus suffered for me. Do I take His sacrifice seriously? Do I respond with gratitude and obedience? Am I willing to follow Him even when it is difficult? Do I truly trust Him? Help me remember His love, live with humility, and choose to honor Him in my thoughts, words, and actions each day with a thankful heart.
Mark 15:16–32 (NET)
16 So the soldiers led him into the palace (that is, the governor’s residence) and called together the whole cohort. 17 They put a purple cloak on him and after braiding a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 They began to salute him: “Hail, king of the Jews!” 19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Then they knelt down and paid homage to him. 20 When they had finished mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
21 The soldiers forced a passerby to carry his cross, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country (he was the father of Alexander and Rufus). 22 They brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which is translated, “Place of the Skull”). 23 They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 Then they crucified him and divided his clothes, throwing dice for them, to decide what each would take. 25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The inscription of the charge against him read, “The king of the Jews.” 27 And they crucified two outlaws with him, one on his right and one on his left. 29 Those who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself and come down from the cross!” 31 In the same way even the chief priests—together with the experts in the law —were mocking him among themselves: “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! 32 Let the Christ, the king of Israel, come down from the cross now, that we may see and believe!” Those who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him.
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