Faith without religion.
Reflections on the Crucifixion: Insights from John 19
In our recent study of John 19, we delved into the profound events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus, focusing on the narrative from verse 16 onward. We began by exploring the timing of Jesus’ crucifixion, addressing the common debate about how Jesus was in the tomb for three days and nights. By understanding the Hebrew way of counting days—from sundown to sundown—we gain clarity on this timeline.
As we moved through the verses, we noted that Jesus, bearing His cross, was led to Golgotha, the place of the skull. An often-overlooked detail is that Simon of Cyrene was compelled to help Jesus carry the cross. This act of assistance highlights a significant message: even Jesus, in His human form, needed help, illustrating the limitations of the flesh and the power of the Spirit.
The crucifixion itself was a brutal and humiliating process, yet it was through this act that salvation was brought to the world. The narrative also introduces us to the two criminals crucified alongside Jesus. While initially both mocked Him, one experienced a change of heart, asking Jesus to remember him in His kingdom. This moment underscores the transformative power of faith and repentance, even in the final moments of life.
Pilate’s inscription on the cross, “JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS,” written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, was a declaration that resonated beyond its immediate context, affirming Jesus’ kingship despite the objections of the religious leaders.
Through this study, we are reminded of the importance of bearing one another’s burdens, as exemplified by Simon of Cyrene, and the call to live by the Spirit, not by the flesh. The crucifixion narrative challenges us to reflect on our own spiritual journey and the ways we can embody the selfless love and humility demonstrated by Jesus.
Teaching Script:
Welcome all present live and those who are watching from home – this is CAMPUS verse by verse Milk May 10th
We are in John at chapter 19.
We will first engage our God in prayer, then listen and or sing to His word set to music. Following that we set a short time aside to reflect upon our Christian walk, and then when we come back we will pick it up at verse 16 of John 19.
Prayer
Music
Silence
We left off with the leaders of the Nation of Israel crying out to Pilate – we have no King but Caesar which brings us to verse 16 in John’s narrative.
Now, I am not going to give an exhaustive rehearsal of the Passion of the Christ.
Instead we are going to take John’s account and use it to guide us to the death and resurrection.
Our verse by verse of Matthew covered the passion in a step by step fashion. This being said I am going to stop and touch on some points that are often ignored when teaching about the passion of the Lord.
The first thing I want to touch on is the timing of His crucifixion.
And there is all manner of debate on how Jesus was three days and three nights in the tomb if he was crucified and died on Friday before Sun down.
The trouble people have is imputing western thinking into the story. What I mean by this is here in the US we think of day and night, day and night.
But all we have to do is put ourselves in the Hebrew way of accounting for a twentyfour hour period and we have a new way.
Why?
The Jews start with Night and end with day.
So (look to overhead)
Thursday
Starts at Sundown on Wednesday (N)
Ends at Dusk on Thursday (D)
FRIDAY(Good Friday)
Starts on Thurs at Sundown (N-1)
Ends on Fri at Sundown (D-1)
SATURDAY (Sabbath)
Starts on Friday at Sundown (N-2)
Ends on Sat at Sundown (D-2)
SUNDAY
Starts on Saturday at Sundown (N-3)
Ends on Sunday at Sundown (D-3)
Not easy to swallow due to some differences of terms but I have heard all the other proposals and in light of scripture this makes the most sense.
Okay, so the way I see it (which is the traditional way of seeing it) is that what we are about to read happened on a Friday. (verse 16)
John 19.24
May 10th 2015
MILK
John 19:16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.
17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.
21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.
22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.
23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
Alright back to verse 16-17
16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.
Verse 17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
Here we are told that Jesus bore His cross and went to a place called the place of the skull but I think there is an important fact that John omits from his account – He had help.
Now, I don’t think that Simon of Cyrene stood by and bore the cross from the beginning of the Lord’s journey to Calvary because from what John says it seems that Jesus started out bearing His own cross and then failing in strength had Simon of Cyrene assigned to help Him.
Additionally we do NOT know if Jesus bore the entire cross or just the cross beam (which is called the Patibulum).
All the conjecture in the world leaning either way will not answer it.
I think what we can say is IN THE LEAST He bore either the upright or the cross bar and common sense tells us that because crucifixions were common place the vertical beam was probably left in place while the crossbeam was the part carried to the site by the person being crucified.
That being said I wonder how they got the cross bar attached to the vertical with a body nailed to it.
It is supposed that Jesus was crucified on what is called a Tau (looks like a capital T rather than a lower case t. If this is the case I could see four men lifting the cross beam up to the top of the vertical beam with the crucified nailed to it and then securing it in place with nails.
The pain from the jarring would have been incomprehensible.
Of course He could have bore the whole thing. That being said the cross could not have resembled anything like what we have on our wall.
It seems like for dramatic effect we view the cross as being enormous but quite frankly a four by four buried deep enough with a four by four cross beam could support an adult male.
Add in the fact that the distance (as the crow flies) between the judgment hall to Calvary was .02 tenths of a mile. Of course the Lord didn’t fly to get there so the route could have been circuitous and much longer.
As an FYI anciently, in the East/West direction Jerusalem was only 6 tenths of a mile across – a little more than a half mile.
Anyway, somewhere along the walk, dragging at least SOME part of the cross, Jesus was assigned a helper by the Romans – a man named Simon from Northern Africa.
It is truly an interesting fact. Our Lord, our Savior, the man fully God according to Philippians needed help bearing a load.
In the typical human imagination we create heroes who can leap tall buildings in a single bound, or possess some sort of super human power to overcome obstacles.
But here our Savior was NOT empowered by God to exhibit super human strength.
Instead He actually had Him illustrate the inability of flesh rather than the ability.
There’s a message here – for all of us to consider.
In Isaiah 31:3 we read an interesting passage which says:
“Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit.”
Egypt is a picture in scripture of sin, of flesh, and of bondage in the human realm. So Isaiah wrote:
Now the Egyptians are men and NOT God (who is Spirit). And then speaking of strength adds:
“And their horses flesh and NOT spirit,”
Meaning they get their horsepower from actual horses, these Egyptians who are flesh but God’s horsepower is spiritual.”
The meaning is vital to understanding true Christianity and God. He does NOT operate in or by fleshly means. He operates fully outside of such things – by the Spirit. And it is by the Spirit that Jesus overcame the cross. NOT by or through His flesh.
That element of His person represented US – our fallen sinful nature. He did NOT overcome sin and death and temptation by or through strength of the flesh but was weak in the flesh – literally and figuratively – but powerful in the Spirit that filled Him.
We are so impressed by horsepower. By physical power in and of itself whether in horses or engines or Man.
These powers reside in flesh and while impressive here on earth do wither and die and go to the grave.
The question is are our Spirits as powerful? As fit? As conditioned to perform the work of God which is selfless love, humility, kindness, gentleness, long-suffering?
Psalms 20:7 says
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”
Jeremiah 17:5 adds
“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.”
Isaiah 31:1 adds to the picture, saying:
“Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!”
If God wanted to save us by flesh could you imagine the being Jesus could have been? Samson a trillion times over.
But Psalm 34:18 says:
“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
We note what appears to be somewhat of a paradox here don’t we?
While Jesus at some point was not capable of bearing His own cross, too weak from his beating – possibly too weak in general, he was assisted by???? That’s right! Another human being – who was in flesh.
Listen to Psalm 34:18 again:
“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
Full of the Spirit and trusting fully in His Father Jesus made a step toward Calvary – and when He failed in His own physical strength God was nigh and provided a helper.
A Jew of Cyrene, which was in North Africa a province of Libya.
History tells us that a hundred thousand Jews from Palestine had been settled in this province by Ptolemy Soter in 323 BC.
By the time Jesus was being crucified these Jews had increased greatly in number. So much so that they had their own synagogue in Jerusalem when they would come there for the annual feasts.
Simon was apparently watching the proceedings of Jesus trial and was seized by the soldiers to help the Lord.
We don’t know why he was chosen. Maybe he looked capable physically or maybe he stepped in to assist Jesus in sympathy and was allowed to continue.
Matthew 27 tells us that he was the “father of Alexander and Rufus” and later in the book of Acts we read that there were “men of Cyrene” who preached the word to the Greeks.
It’s possible among them was this same Simon. If this Simon was a follower or believer in Jesus we have to take note of something here – he didn’t resist the Roman’s nor did he shirk the demand to help Jesus – he stepped right in and helped Him along.
Not resisting but helping Him toward Calvary.
Blessing Him in the time of His trial by coming to His aid.
Can you imagine the place in heavenly history this man holds being the one who helped Jesus bear His cross.
Can you imagine the condition of his heart when He came to know that the beaten bloody man he helped – the criminal condemned to die – was none other than the Lord of Heaven and Earth, the King of Kings?
(beat)
We often talk about spiritual things not being quantifiable but I know something spiritual that is quantifiable – helping people in need.
In the act itself there is a spiritual affirmation that good is being done, that God is pleased, that we are involved in helping another bear their burden, carry their cross.
You may have heard the story of the university professor who was teaching a class on Christianity at a Christian college.
It was time for the final exam and the professor staged the exam outside the classroom not in it – unbeknownst to the class.
What he did was get a number of people to stage themselves along every possible path and entrance to where the final was being held –
A woman with unruly children trying to carry a bag, a bum asking for money, a disabled person trying to get up a flight of stairs, an elderly man bearing a box. You name it there was a cast member “in the way” to provide every student with the opportunity to set their schedule aside and help.
Once all the students were present the professor sent word and all the cast members feigning help were called back into the room – and from what I read all the students failed to help any of them – and the professor, showing mercy, gave all the students the final grade of C.
It is one thing to hear the story of Jesus passion and remember it gratefully.
It is an entirely different matter to apply the principles displayed in this event nearly two thousand years ago to our lives today.
Jesus plainly said in Luke 9:23
“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”
In this we find the personal command to suffer daily, taking up our cross and following Him – to where?
Where did He take His cross? To a place of death. Death of what? Death of His flesh.
So we are likewise commanded to pursue a course where we too, take up our cross and daily look toward Calvary.
Are we alone in this? Was Jesus? No. He had spiritual strength and was also supplied with others – namely, this African Jew – who gave His time and strength to help Him along.
Paul said in Galatians 6:2
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
The principle is taught time and time again throughout scripture.
Jesus, after washing the disciples feet in the upper room said:
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Of course all that we do – not feel – but do, are expressions of the highest love –selfless actions expressed on behalf of others.
Simon could have just sat back and felt bad for Jesus. He could have prayed when He saw Jesus failing. Certainly there is the idea that he was compelled to help Jesus by Roman law but if He was a lover of the Law over a lover of Christ He would have refused to touch the unclean thing.
No such doing.
So when Paul says that bearing one anothers burdens is fulfilling the law of Christ we know that to bear burdens of another is an act that fulfills Jesus words in John 13:34 where He said:
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
In any case we know that under Roman law Jesus was commanded to bear his own cross.
In verse 16 John wrote:
16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.
Then in verse 17 says
17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
Golgotha is the common Hebrew name of the spot where Jesus was crucified.
It is interpreted by Mathew, Mark and John as “the place of a skull”
The Hebrew word is GOLGOLETH and means head or skull and Golgotha is the Greek for this term.
In Luke 23:33 (only) we read:
“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand.”
The Word Calvary in English is Krainion in Greek and means the exact same thing as GOLGOLETH in Hebrew – skull.
Now, according to scripture this location would have to be a place near the city
(Luke 23:26), outside the city gate (Hebrews 13:12) containing a garden (John 19:41) and was located on a road that lead out into the country and likewise back into the city.
In 335 AD Constantine ordered that a place we call the Church of the Holy Sepulchre be built on the spot where Calvary was supposed to have been located.
From what I have been told it does NOT meet the parameters from scripture that depict the location of Calvary but instead there is a hill above what is called Jeremiah’s Grotto, to the north of the city, that is in all probability the true site of Calvary.
There is a skull-like appearance in the rock face of the southern precipice of this hill that is quite remarkable.
So to Calvary, Golgotha, the place of the skull (verse 18):
18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
To crucify, means to put to death on a cross. A crucifix is a cross with a model of Jesus still attached to it, a cross is missing the image all-together.
Again, we do not know the specifics. Some suggest the vertical beam was not yet in the hole, others suggest it was.
What we can say is if it was already standing the top of his had to be low to the ground because they had to lift the prabulum up upon it and then secure it which would have been excruciating.
If the vertical beam was not in place they would have laid the cross beam on it, attached it, and then attached Him to it using nails in the hands and wrists and feet – then lifted him up – dropping the vertical end into the hole and causing immense pain.
Certainly, due to the cost of iron in those days it is almost certain that they would have reused their nails which were most assuredly rusty.
Prior to attaching Jesus to the cross they would have stripped his clothes off of him – I am certain to the bone – which would have pulled the dried fabric off his beaten back side.
It is believed that there was a small outcropping of wood where the crucified would have been able to rest their rear end but it was placed so low on vertical beam that the crucified would have to stretch out as far as possible to rest upon it, an act which would cut off their oxygen intake.
Almost all crucified people died of asphyxiation combined with immeasurable pain and thirst.
In order to get a breath they would have to push up against the nails in their feet and pull up on the nails through the hands and wrists to take a breath.
Some believe that ropes were also used to reinforce the arms to the crossbeam.
Apparently the torture could continue for days so it was a surprise when Jesus died in a relatively quick period of time.
Everything about crucifixion was despised among the Roman, Hebrew and Greeks and so the fact that our King was killed this way made sharing the Good News really difficult with the proud.
They wanted nothing to do with a person who was put to death on a filthy cross reserved for the most notorious outcasts of society including robbers, murderers, perverts and the most notorious and abandoned wretches imaginable.
How remarkable that our God saved the world through what are viewed as the most wretched means –
A human being born in an animal stall.
Without an earthly Father and from a mother with child before the wedding.
Who came from what was called the other side of the tracts of Israel – Nazareth, Galilee.
He had no form that anyone would desire of Him – no handsome features, no physicality to be admired.
He was not formally educated, he did not have wealth.
He had no place to rest His head in ministry
He was despised and rejected of men on an ever increasing level until the day came when they took him.
He was denied by those He called His friends.
He was treated as a criminal yet had broken no crime, as a sinner but had never sinned, as unclean but was the only clean human being to ever live.
Then beaten, stripped of his flesh, he was taken – naked and suffering – and nailed to a cross then lifted up above the earth for all to see . . . and believe and receive . . . or reject.
(beat)
We also note from John’s description that
He was crucified . . .
and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
Matthew says that the Chief Priests and such were mocking Jesus and then adds:
Matthew 27:44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
Meaning they also hurled accusations against Him.
Mark says
Mark 15:32 “And they that were crucified with him reviled him.”
But Luke is the only Gospel writer who includes some insight on Jesus interaction with these two others in a different way.
This is his account:
(Luke 23:39) And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
How are we to understand this inconsistency. After all mark and Matthew both claim that both thieves were railing on Jesus.
But Luke not only says it was only one he also describes a conversation the other has with Jesus where the thief is rendered acceptable for paradise, the Old Testament holding tank for the FAITHFUL?
(beat)
I personally do not believe that Matthew and Marks accounts were wrong. In fact I think that if we were going to reasonable view the situation I would suggest that it only makes sense that both of the others crucified with Jesus would have mocked him – due to nature, and circumstance and Satan tempting them to let the venom fly.
But Luke’s account reveals something so utterly touching – a change in the heart of one of them.
Maybe he started off railing on Jesus, but watched the Lord bear His suffering in love.
Maybe his own misery broke him and caused him to see, and hear, and believe.
What Luke does tell is, again is:
. . . one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, “If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.”
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
We make an aweful big deal out of people saying the right words to be saved, don’t we?
We talk about the necessity of water baptism, about doing enough works after we believe, changing our lives etc.
And here, in the story of the two thieves we have proof that the one who was saved to paradise, the place of the faithful, while on the cross, RAILED on the Lord, and then at some point in time changed his mind, defended the Lord, and asked to be remembered by Him when He comes into His kingdom, inferring that he knew Jesus was a king.
That’s REALLY, REALLY good news in action, isn’t it?
(beat) verse 19-22
19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.
21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.
22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.
Orthodox Jews today are still waiting for their King to arrive not realizing He has been on the throne for nearly two thousand years.
In an act of utter prophetic license, Pilate, it seems, led of wanting to do something to have the last word in what he knew was a travesty of justice, apparently went to the site of the crucifixion and took it upon Himself to inscribe this to Jesus person:
Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.
He wrote it in every language applicable so that all passing by could read these never more true words ever written.
And in so doing was NOT going to change the verbiage to please the controlling religious leaders.
He had written what He had written. And nothing in the universe was going to change it.
(beat)
Q and A
