Matthew 27 - Part 3

 

Read Matthew 27

This section brings a term that we don’t see used much anymore—praetorium.  Originally, the praetorium identified the general’s tent in a roman encampment or fortress.  The word evolved into the courtyard of any significant leader.

Thus, the action moved to the courtyard area of the governor’s palace.  This was perhaps a more secluded area where the people yelled crucify him.

The soldiers were not double-minded as was their governor.  Once they were told to crucify a man, it was game on.

This one claimed to be a king, so they made him a crown of thorns and gave him a robe and knelt down before him. They even gave him a staff and mocked him by hailing him as king.

But the accouterments of such high office were taken away and the abuse began. When they had abused him sufficiently—to the point where more may have killed him—they took him to the cross.

The crucifixion took place atop Golgotha—the place of the skull.  Now there’s a name fit for a crucifixion site.  The Roman soldiers would not carry the cross for the condemned.  Jesus was too weak so a man named Simon from Cyrene was forced to carry the cross.

While several stories and theatrical productions have been made about this man; we don't know much about him or how he was selected.  He had two children, Alexander and Rufus.  He was just walking along and obviously in sight of the execution detail and was conscripted for service.

Cyrene was probably northern Libya. As we may one day in eternity look for Moses with a picture in our mind of Charlton Heston; if we are looking for Simon, we might picture Sidney Poitier.

Here’s the thing.  Jesus couldn’t die carrying his own cross up the hill.  He had to be lifted up and die on a cross or a pole or a tree.  Simon was necessary to get Jesus to the cross where he would die as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Jesus was crucified between two criminals.  Even they cursed him and taunted him.

At least Pilate got to taunt the religious hypocrites.  He had a sign placed on top of the cross that held Jesus. 

Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

The Chief Priest and elders followed Jesus to the cross.  They wouldn’t kill him themselves, but they were going to make sure the job was done.  They joined the fray of heaping insults upon Jesus.

“He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.  He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

The hypocrites thought that they finally had the upper hand and were bold in their insults taunting Jesus and even God whom they thought they knew.

Little did they know their right standing before God was nailed to a cross before them.

Amen.