.png)
Articles
The Cross of Jesus
The scene of Jesus’ crucifixion captivates the heart of every Christian. On the cross, Jesus paid the awesome price for our sins. The cross is an emblem of suffering and shame, but thanks be to God, it is the foundation of our salvation! Jesus did not remove Himself from Jerusalem. Jesus did not run away from His purpose and mission. Jesus gave Himself over to His captors, submitted to their mockery of a trial, and then obediently went to the cross. Jesus’ crucifixion should always be our greatest motivation in our devotion to Him. There is no greater demonstration of love, then when Jesus took on the sins of the world at the cross!
The scene of Jesus’ crucifixion contains numerous details from each of the gospel narratives. When we read Jesus’ final words, we are amazed by His heart of forgiveness, love, and devotion to the Father’s will. We stand in awe of Jesus’ final breathe and the centurion’s confession – “Truly this man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39). Every detail contained in the gospels helps us to understand the cross’ magnitude and glory. Our goal in this article is to survey the insults hurled at Jesus as He hung upon the cross.
Jesus’ enemies were not satisfied with Pilate having Him scourged, but rather they wanted Him dead. The mob in Jerusalem cried – “Crucify, crucify Him” (Luke 23:21)! Pilate gave Him over to be crucified. Jesus was led to Golgotha, where He was nailed to His cross, and raised between two thieves. The hatred of the Jews was still not satisfied, but as Jesus hung upon the cross, they hurled insults and mockingly called for Him to save Himself.
One of the earliest insults hurled at Jesus on the cross had also marked the beginning of His earthly ministry. The Jews cried – “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross” (Mark 15:29-30). This statement has been made by Jesus in Jerusalem at the first Passover of His ministry (John 2:13-22). When Jesus found money changers in the temple, He drove them out, which prompted the Jews to ask Him – “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” Jesus answered – “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Jesus was not speaking of the literal temple, but rather was speaking in reference to His own body. The phrase which began His earthly ministry was literally fulfilled in His resurrection on the third day!
Other insults aimed at Jesus on the cross were very similar – “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One…If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself” (Luke 23:35, 37; emphasis mine, bcj). In each of these insults, the Jews called for Jesus to rescue Himself from the cross. But God through the cross was actually rescuing mankind from their sin! This demonstration of God’s grace is simply beyond our comprehension. The apostle Paul wrote –
6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:6-8; emphasis mine, bcj).
Praise God for Jesus’ love which kept Him on the cross, so that through His death, burial, and resurrection “…He would be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29b).
When Jesus had first arrived at Golgotha, both of the thieves who were crucified beside Him hurled insults like the surrounding mob (Luke 23:33, 39-43). This dramatically changed during the time which Jesus hung on the cross. One thief cried – “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” Which prompted the other thief to respond – “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” The thief’s recognition of Jesus’ innocence is compelling and his follow-up question created one of the most memorable moments during Jesus’ crucifixion. The thief asked – “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” Even on the cross, Jesus continued to fulfill His mission and purpose – “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
We should never casually read through Jesus’ crucifixion. It is a heart-rending narrative given to us from a variety of authors and their own vantage points. When we see the cross of Christ it should cause us to give thanks! It should motivate us to a greater appreciation for God’s grace, mercy, and love. The cross of Christ should create in our hearts a song of praise that cannot be quenched and a message on our lips that will not be silenced! Our hearts should be broken by the thought of the temptations and sin which so easily entangles us. The cost of man’s sin is the cross of Jesus. Let us never be accused of diminishing God’s greatest gift to mankind. The enemies of Jesus went to His crucifixion only to insult and mock Him. May we come to the cross of Christ with a heart humiliated by our own sin and a life willing to live for Him!
