The scenes on the path to Calvary
Mark 15:15-25
The Jews were expecting a different kind of King born in a palace but Here was Jesus who was born from a lowly background and was therefore denied by them. Pilate and the Romans did not find fault with Jesus but because of the pressure to keep his position with the people, he decided against him.
Did you notice that Jesus’ life could not be faulted by anyone in any way? This is the same way we should let our lives shine in a holy manner before God and before Men.
In this place, Pilate sins by sentencing an innocent man because of wanting to keep a world position!
There are 3 scenes in this portion of scripture and 2 of them are based on people and one is about a place.
Matthew 27:24-25.
- The Soldiers had asked Pilate with Jews to crucify Jesus and even asked for the curse to be upon them and their children for crucifying Jesus!
They wanted Jesus to be scourged: which was a very terrible punishment for anyone. His flesh came off with every flog and he bled. They had used their strongest men to deliver this punishment. 39 stripes of the cane He received and remember that there were also 39 major diseases mentioned in the old Testament. Hence He was bruised for our iniquities and he took our stripes for our diseases and infirmities. It’s mentioned that there were about 600 soldiers at this event: even those who came back from leave were present!
Jesus had gone through mental torture from the day before because He knew what they would do.
Mark 14:33
Matthew 26:53
Through all this mockery and being smitten, Jesus bore it all and said nothing till it was all finished!
Through all this, He just wanted to show us how much He loved us!
Mark 15:21
- The second character is Simon of Cyrene.
Simon comes from Lybia to worship in Jerusalem and is forced to take the cross by the Roman Soldiers.
Jesus couldn’t take the pain of the cross since his body was critically broken.
Simon had already made plans to go his way towards the Passover and if he joined to carry the cross he would end up missing the whole event. Also, the cross was heavy, he had no reason to be near it and it was also a shame and a curse. Simon was only compelled by the soldiers to carry it.
The Bible is clear how if you miss or let go of something for God’s sake, he will mightily reward you!
Matthew 16:24
Jesus’ words that anyone who desires to follow him, he should deny himself and carry the cross. What wonderful words that Simon exemplified! It’s amazing how the children of Simon become great people in society and the gospel later as seen in the book of Romans.
Romans 16:13
He was the father of Rufus and Alexander!
There are some unique incidents like this in the Bible including the story with the Ethiopian eunuch.
- The place called Golgotha.
Jesus has taken upon himself the entire sins of mankind then and even those who were to come.
It was in this place that He promises the disciples that He will give them a helper and a comforter called the Holy Spirit! Jesus mentioned that He would plead to the Father to give them the Holy Spirit to be with them forever! Jesus on the way to Golgotha also finds himself denied by His Disciples since none of them was there.
He was also given a narcotic drink of wine with Myrrh. It would have made him escape the pain but He still refuses to take the drink so that he feels the pain for us fully! He didn’t want to escape it. It shows that Jesus was ready and willing to die for our sins!
John 18:37
Jesus States frankly to Pilate that for this cause He was born! It was always clear that Jesus knew what He had come for. He had a choice to refuse this cup of suffering upon himself but no, Jesus chose to die for us!
A prophecy of Psalm 22:18 was fulfilled by the soldiers gambling for His clothes. Jesus had no other possession rather than just those clothes but he gave up all of himself for us to have a life!
On the third day, He rose again and is still alive till this day! No matter the situation you’re going through, Jesus defeated it on that cross!
God bless us through the meditation of the living word of God.
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