Day 312, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Mark 15:22-41; Matthew 27:33-56; Luke 23:33-49; John 19:17b-37
Listen to a dramatic poem I wrote about the Passion week called the Cup. Please email me and tell me what you think of it.
Eight Responses to the Cross
Jesus suffered what today might be considered a hate crime. Religious leaders hated him. He threatened their social positions, challenged their hypocrisy and beliefs, did miracles they could not discredit and was popular with most people. They knew they had to get rid of him. Late at night, therefore, they hunted him down, arrested him, beat him, and put him through three illegal court trials.
Just before dawn, they convicted him of blasphemy for claiming to be God. Then they dragged him before the Roman governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate. Only the Roman government had the authority to carry out capital punishments.
However, when they presented their case before Pilate, they couldn’t use any of their religious arguments. The Roman government didn’t care about them, so the Jewish leaders accused Jesus of crimes against the state. They accused Jesus of subverting the nation, opposing the payment of taxes, and calling himself a king (Luke 23:2). All of these charges were false (Luke 20:25) and the accusations didn’t stick.The Roman governor punished Jesus, but it didn’t satisfy the stirred-up crowd of spectators. The religious leaders and many of the Jewish people cried out for Jesus’ crucifixion.
“If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar….”
The chief priests shouted, “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:12b, 15, NIV).
Finally, Pilate turned Jesus over to Roman soldiers for crucifixion because of political pressure from the Jewish leaders. If you want to read more about the crucifixion, go to the more insights page.
Eight Responses to the Crucifixion of Christ
1. Mocking and Insults
In today's Bible reading, the religious leaders deny he is the Christ, and they want the sign above his head changed from “The King of the Jews” to “This Man claimed to be the King of the Jews” (John 19:19-22). Then all who pass by him mock and insult him, and some shake their heads and say,
“You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him (Mark 15:29-30,32 NIV).
2. Forgiveness
How does Jesus respond to their mocking? Does he rail back at them or call fire down upon them? No, the Son of God says, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34, NIV). Astounding!
Many people today also insult, mock, and use Jesus’ name in vain. He died on the cross and now offers forgiveness for all who trust him for salvation (John 3:16-17; John 5:24). This includes you and me.Christians, if Jesus could forgive his enemies who crucified him, we need to forgive those who hurt us.
3. Guilt and Believing
After a time on the cross, the heart of one of the thieves crucified beside Jesus softens (Luke 23:39-43). He acknowledges he is guilty of his crimes, fears God, and comes to believe in Jesus as the King and Savior of souls. The thief asks Jesus to remember him when he comes into his kingdom. Despite intense suffering, Jesus’ silent testimony and his words of genuine forgiveness profoundly impact the criminal.Like the thief on the cross, the good news is that if we turn from our sins and believe in Jesus’ sacrifice for us, we can receive forgiveness and the assurance of going to heaven (more...).
Christians, do others notice that we do not curse God or anyone when suffering but endure it and forgive our enemies?
4. Greed and Selfishness
The soldiers gamble over Jesus’ clothing to see who might win them (John 19:23-24). Some people are like vultures in their greed and selfishness when others die. Even today, some make merchandise from the cross of Christ.
5. Caring
Jesus doesn’t curse God because of his pain and agony, or his feeling of being forsaken by his heavenly Father, or the injustice of his circumstances. No, he cares for others, especially those closest to him. From the cross, Jesus tells John, his closest friend on earth, “Take care of my mother” (John 19:26-27). His mother, Mary, will soon need comfort, and he knows John will take good care of her. Apparently, Jesus' earthly father, Joseph, is no longer living.
If we knew we were going to suffer quickly and die, if possible, we should follow Jesus’ example and try to provide for our loved ones.
6. Exclamations
When the Son of God dies, there is thick darkness in the middle of the day, a terrible earthquake, and God splits open the temple’s veil from top to bottom.
When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!’” (Matthew 27:54, NIV).
Do we fear God when we hear of the crucifixion of Christ? Do we see God involved in nature and the lives of people? Let’s fear him and give him praise!
7. Grief and Sobriety
The crowd watches the terrible scene, they beat their breasts (a sign of mourning), and then they go home. Many people he healed in this crowd were given sight, hearing, speech, were raised to life, miraculously fed, or heard him speak words of authority from God. They are sad, but there is nothing they can do about it, and they go home.
Sadness is still the response many have at Communion Services, where we remember the suffering and death of Christ on our behalf. Thinking soberly, in light of his crucifixion for us, how should we then live?
8. Disillusion and Shock
The family members, friends, and close followers of Jesus remain at the scene of the cross for a while after he dies, and they watch what will happen next (Luke 23:49). His followers were so sure this was their Messiah. He was supposed to deliver them from oppression and Roman rule, give their nation peace and prominence, and reign as their king, as the ancient prophets foretold.
Now he is dead. They watch Jesus being taken down from the cross and buried before they go home. They are in shock.
What response do we have to the death of Christ? When we think about it, does it just make us sad, and then we go on with our life? Are we in shock and grief from all that we learn about Jesus’ sufferings?
If Jesus died, why do we call it Good Friday?
Thinking about the death of Christ is indeed sad, but today we call it, “Good Friday.” Why is this? It certainly was not a good Friday for Jesus. On this day, we rejoice that he purchased our salvation by his death on the cross. His death is not the end of the story—Jesus would not remain dead in the tomb! As an old preacher once said, “Today is Friday, but Sunday is a coming’!”
Endnote: There are two schools of thought here: The traditional one: The way the Jewish people count the days is that any part of a day is one day. On Friday, Jesus died before sundown. On Saturday, his body lay in the tomb, On Sunday, just after sunrise, he arose from the grave. This was the third day.
The other view (and I think this seems more Biblical) is that Jesus died on a Thursday. Those who determined that Jesus died on a Friday didn't take into account that the Passover Sabbath was a special Sabbath (John 19:31) and that a regular Sabbath followed it. So just as Jonah was in the belly of a huge fish three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man in the heart of the earth (Jesus going down to paradise) three days and three nights (Matthew 12:40) . It fits!
Discussion
If we are falsely accused and have to suffer for it, how should we respond?
What are some responses we have to the death of Christ? What answers might change our lives?
What does Galatians 2:20 mean, and how should it be expressed?
Focus Verse
Galatians 2:20 (NIV) “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Helpful resource: Why the Resurrection is Important by Chip Ingram.
Listen to a dramatic poem I wrote about the Passion week called the Cup. Please email me and tell me what you think of it.
Watch a dramatized version of the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Christ
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study:
Please send your comments to me, Rod
Looking Ahead: How is Jesus like A Planted Seed? How does this relate to us?
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