Journey through Scripture
Jesus bears His cross
After Jesus was whipped, crowned with thorns, and cruelly mocked, His body was bloodied and torn. He and the two criminals, who would be crucified on either side of Him, were forced to carry their crossbeams from Gabbatha, the place of judgment, to Golgotha, the place of execution, outside the city. Exhausted by His ordeal, Jesus battled to carry His heavy wooden crossbeam. The Roman soldiers pulled an onlooker, Simon from Cyrene, out of the watching crowds and forced him to take Jesus’ crossbeam.
So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
John 19:16-17 NIVUK
As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.’
Luke 23:26-28 NIVUK
The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.
Hebrews 13:11-12 NIVUK
Jesus is crucified
It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.
They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!’ In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. ‘He saved others,’ they said, ‘but he can’t save himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.’ Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’).
When some of those standing near heard this, they said, ‘Listen, he’s calling Elijah.’
Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. ‘Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,’ he said.
With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God!’
Mark 15:25-39 NIVUK
A deeper look at Scripture
Jesus spoke seven times from the cross. Let us consider each of these sayings and their significance for us.
First word: Forgiveness
‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’
Luke 23:34 NIVUK
Second word: Salvation
‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’
Luke 23:43 NIVUK
Third word: Relationship
‘Woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’
John 19:26-27 NIVUK
Fourth word: Forsakenness
‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’
Matthew 27:46 NIVUK
Fifth word: Suffering
‘I am thirsty.’
John 19:28 NIVUK
Sixth word: Completion
‘It is finished.’
John 19:30 NIVUK
Seventh word: Committal
‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’
Luke 23:46 NIVUK
Each saying contains great spiritual truth intended to build our faith. We invite you to reflect in-depth on these sayings by joining our seven-day devotional series, which focuses on each of the seven words spoken from the cross.
The devotions are available as videos and podcasts. We strongly encourage you to make them part of your personal quiet times as you prepare for Easter. Click to either WATCH or LISTEN to each of the seven devotionals.
How does this apply to me?
- When you stand in front of the cross (onsite at church), pick up one of the items placed below to get a feel of the weight of the crossbeam that Jesus was expected to carry to Golgotha.
- Choose one (or more) of the seven words Jesus spoke from the cross. Meditate on it prayerfully and consider how it applies to your relationship with Jesus.
Proceed to The Tomb >>
