The Gospels give us the historical fact of Christ’s crucifixion. The Epistles explain the theological signification of His death. Wiersbe succinctly put it this way: “History states that ‘Christ died,’ but theology explains, ‘Christ died for our sins’ (1 Cor. 15:3).”
For example, in Philippians 2:8, Paul referred to the shame, the reproach of crucifixion when he said that Christ “humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross.”
Crucifixion was the torturous execution of a person by fixation to a cross. Alexander the Great introduced Crucifixion to the Mediterranean world. Although first practiced by the Persians, crucifixion was perfected by the Romans as the most degrading form of execution. No Roman citizen could be crucified, only murderers, thieves, rapists and the scum of the earth.
Some think the electric chair is cruel, hanging torturous and the firing squad inhumane—these are mild by comparison to crucifixion. I want us to follow Christ through His crucifixion and see how much He loved us.
First, the scourging referred to in Matthew 27:26.
Roman law demanded scourging before crucifixion. The sufferer was stripped from the waist up and bound to a pole, bending forward so as to expose the back completely. The heavy whip contained bits of sheep bone or metal and tore the quivering flesh into one bloody mass.
The Law of Moses, Deuteronomy 25, provided that a scourging should not exceed 40 strips and Jewish custom made sure of this by stopping at “40 strips save 1.” But Roman scourers or lectors were not restricted.
Mel Gibson’s The Passion of Christ probably came the closest to actually depicting this horrible act. But even Gibson’s gory scene fell short of the terrible reality.
The blood began to ooze from the capillaries and veins and finally spurt when arteries broke. When completed the skin of the back was hanging in long ribbons. The half-fainting Jesus was untied and allowed to slump to the stone pavement wet with His own blood.
Why did Jesus endure the scourging? Because He loves you.
Next came the mocking in Matthew 27:27-30.
In verse 28, the hardhearted soldiers remove the robe that by now has already adhered to the clots of blood and serum in the wounds. This removal, just as the careless removal of a surgical bandage caused excruciating pain and opened the wounds once again.
Because Christ claimed to be king of the Jews, the soldiers pay mock homage to the king. Where they previously stripped him for scourging, they now replace his garments with a reddish purple soldier’s short cloak across His lacerated back. This was a mocking substitute for a king’s purple robe.
Instead of a scepter, they place a stick in His hands.
A small bundle of flexible branches covered with long thorns are braided into the shape of a crown and pressed into His scalp. Again copious bleeding begins, the scalp being one of the most vascular areas of the body.
With mocking homage they bow their knees and cry, “Hail, King of the Jews.” Instead of giving the kiss of homage they spit in His face.
The soldiers yank the stick out of His hands and strike Him across the head, driving the thorns deeper into His forehead.
Peter wrote of Jesus’ reaction in 1 Peter 2:18-24.
What was mock homage in Pilate’s judgment hall, will be mandatory homage at God’s Great White Throne Judgment according to Philippians 2:9-11.
Then came the Procession of Crosses to Golgotha in Matthew 27:31c-32
It was required that prisoners carry their own cross or at least the crossbeam which weighed about 110 pounds. A large crowd followed the procession of crosses according to Luke 23:27 and two thieves also were bearing their crosses as Luke 23:32 records.
At first, Jesus started bearing His cross (John 19:17) but soon was unable to carry it. He was emotionally drained by Friday morning. In the garden Thursday, He prayed until His sweat became as great drops of blood. Physicians in medical literature refer to this phenomenon as bloody sweat. Under great emotional stress, tiny capillaries on the sweat glands burst thus mixing blood with sweat. This process alone could have produced marked weakness and possibly a stroke.
He was mentally spent. All night long Christ had endured six set up court trials and in every case, He was on trial for His life.
He was physically exhausted. He had been up all night without food or drink and beaten mercilessly.
Mark 15:22 says, “And they bring Him to Golgotha” (literal translation). This suggests that the soldiers had to assist Jesus in the procession, for the word “bring” has the meaning of “to carry, to bear.”[1]
Because Christ was slowing down the progress of the procession, the soldiers draft Simon of Cyrene to take Christ’s cross. Simon, a North African was visiting to celebrate the Passover. As Simon was coming into to the city the procession was going out of the great northern gate. Simon was humiliated to carry the cross of an unknown criminal.
Mark referred to Simon as though the people reading his Gospel would recognize him: “the father of Alexander and Rufus” (Mark 15:21). Apparently, these two sons were well-known members of the church. It seems likely that this humiliating experience resulted in Simon’s conversion as well as in the conversion of his family. Simon came to Jerusalem to sacrifice his Passover lamb, and he met the Lamb of God who was sacrificed for him.[2]
[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1996), Mt 27:31.
[2] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1996), Mt 27:31.