14 December
Brief commentary follows with study questions.
187:0.1
After the two brigands had been made ready, the soldiers, under the direction of a centurion, started for the scene of the crucifixion. The centurion in charge of these twelve soldiers was the same captain who had led forth the Roman soldiers the previous night to arrest Jesus in Gethsemane. It was the Roman custom to assign four soldiers for each person to be crucified. The two brigands were properly scourged before they were taken out to be crucified, but Jesus was given no further physical punishment; the captain undoubtedly thought he had already been sufficiently scourged, even before his condemnation.187:0.2
The two thieves crucified with Jesus were associates of Barabbas and would later have been put to death with their leader if he had not been released as the Passover pardon of Pilate. Jesus was thus crucified in the place of Barabbas.187:0.3
What Jesus is now about to do, submit to death on the cross, he does of his own free will. In foretelling this experience, he said: “The Father loves and sustains me because I am willing to lay down my life. But I will take it up again. No one takes my life away from me—I lay it down of myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up. I have received such a commandment from my Father.”187:0.4
It was just before nine o’clock this morning when the soldiers led Jesus from the praetorium on the way to Golgotha. They were followed by many who secretly sympathized with Jesus, but most of this group of two hundred or more were either his enemies or curious idlers who merely desired to enjoy the shock of witnessing the crucifixions. Only a few of the Jewish leaders went out to see Jesus die on the cross. Knowing that he had been turned over to the Roman soldiers by Pilate, and that he was condemned to die, they busied themselves with their meeting in the temple, whereat they discussed what should be done with his followers.1. On the Way to Golgotha
187:1.1
Before leaving the courtyard of the praetorium, the soldiers placed the crossbeam on Jesus’ shoulders. It was the custom to compel the condemned man to carry the crossbeam to the site of the crucifixion. Such a condemned man did not carry the whole cross, only this shorter timber. The longer and upright pieces of timber for the three crosses had already been transported to Golgotha and, by the time of the arrival of the soldiers and their prisoners, had been firmly implanted in the ground.187:1.2
According to custom the captain led the procession, carrying small white boards on which had been written with charcoal the names of the criminals and the nature of the crimes for which they had been condemned. For the two thieves the centurion had notices which gave their names, underneath which was written the one word, “Brigand.” It was the custom, after the victim had been nailed to the crossbeam and hoisted to his place on the upright timber, to nail this notice to the top of the cross, just above the head of the criminal, that all witnesses might know for what crime the condemned man was being crucified. The legend which the centurion carried to put on the cross of Jesus had been written by Pilate himself in Latin, Greek, and Aramaic, and it read: “Jesus of Nazareth—the King of the Jews.”187:1.3
Some of the Jewish authorities who were yet present when Pilate wrote this legend made vigorous protest against calling Jesus the “king of the Jews.” But Pilate reminded them that such an accusation was part of the charge which led to his condemnation. When the Jews saw they could not prevail upon Pilate to change his mind, they pleaded that at least it be modified to read, “He said, ‘I am the king of the Jews.’” But Pilate was adamant; he would not alter the writing. To all further supplication he only replied, “What I have written, I have written.”187:1.4
Ordinarily, it was the custom to journey to Golgotha by the longest road in order that a large number of persons might view the condemned criminal, but on this day they went by the most direct route to the Damascus gate, which led out of the city to the north, and following this road, they soon arrived at Golgotha, the official crucifixion site of Jerusalem. Beyond Golgotha were the villas of the wealthy, and on the other side of the road were the tombs of many well-to-do Jews.187:1.5
Crucifixion was not a Jewish mode of punishment. Both the Greeks and the Romans learned this method of execution from the Phoenicians. Even Herod, with all his cruelty, did not resort to crucifixion. The Romans never crucified a Roman citizen; only slaves and subject peoples were subjected to this dishonorable mode of death. During the siege of Jerusalem, just forty years after the crucifixion of Jesus, all of Golgotha was covered by thousands upon thousands of crosses upon which, from day to day, there perished the flower of the Jewish race. A terrible harvest, indeed, of the seed-sowing of this day.187:1.6
As the death procession passed along the narrow streets of Jerusalem, many of the tenderhearted Jewish women who had heard Jesus’ words of good cheer and compassion, and who knew of his life of loving ministry, could not refrain from weeping when they saw him being led forth to such an ignoble death. As he passed by, many of these women bewailed and lamented. And when some of them even dared to follow along by his side, the Master turned his head toward them and said: “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but rather weep for yourselves and for your children. My work is about done—soon I go to my Father—but the times of terrible trouble for Jerusalem are just beginning. Behold, the days are coming in which you shall say: Blessed are the barren and those whose breasts have never suckled their young. In those days will you pray the rocks of the hills to fall on you in order that you may be delivered from the terrors of your troubles.”187:1.7
These women of Jerusalem were indeed courageous to manifest sympathy for Jesus, for it was strictly against the law to show friendly feelings for one who was being led forth to crucifixion. It was permitted the rabble to jeer, mock, and ridicule the condemned, but it was not allowed that any sympathy should be expressed. Though Jesus appreciated the manifestation of sympathy in this dark hour when his friends were in hiding, he did not want these kindhearted women to incur the displeasure of the authorities by daring to show compassion in his behalf. Even at such a time as this Jesus thought little about himself, only of the terrible days of tragedy ahead for Jerusalem and the whole Jewish nation.187:1.8
As the Master trudged along on the way to the crucifixion, he was very weary; he was nearly exhausted. He had had neither food nor water since the Last Supper at the home of Elijah Mark; neither had he been permitted to enjoy one moment of sleep. In addition, there had been one hearing right after another up to the hour of his condemnation, not to mention the abusive scourgings with their accompanying physical suffering and loss of blood. Superimposed upon all this was his extreme mental anguish, his acute spiritual tension, and a terrible feeling of human loneliness.187:1.9
Shortly after passing through the gate on the way out of the city, as Jesus staggered on bearing the crossbeam, his physical strength momentarily gave way, and he fell beneath the weight of his heavy burden. The soldiers shouted at him and kicked him, but he could not arise. When the captain saw this, knowing what Jesus had already endured, he commanded the soldiers to desist. Then he ordered a passerby, one Simon from Cyrene, to take the crossbeam from Jesus’ shoulders and compelled him to carry it the rest of the way to Golgotha.187:1.10
This man Simon had come all the way from Cyrene, in northern Africa, to attend the Passover. He was stopping with other Cyrenians just outside the city walls and was on his way to the temple services in the city when the Roman captain commanded him to carry Jesus’ crossbeam. Simon lingered all through the hours of the Master’s death on the cross, talking with many of his friends and with his enemies. After the resurrection and before leaving Jerusalem, he became a valiant believer in the gospel of the kingdom, and when he returned home, he led his family into the heavenly kingdom. His two sons, Alexander and Rufus, became very effective teachers of the new gospel in Africa. But Simon never knew that Jesus, whose burden he bore, and the Jewish tutor who once befriended his injured son, were the same person.187:1.11
It was shortly after nine o’clock when this procession of death arrived at Golgotha, and the Roman soldiers set themselves about the task of nailing the two brigands and the Son of Man to their respective crosses.
Brief Commentary
In today’s text, we read about the solemn and tragic events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, along with two thieves. The Urantia Book talks about the voluntary nature of Jesus’ sacrifice, stating that he submitted to death on the cross of his own free will. This demonstrates his obedience to the Father’s will and his authority over his own life and death.
The reading unfolds with Roman soldiers, under the command of a centurion, preparing to crucify the three condemned individuals. The two thieves were associates of Barabbas, who, due to the Passover pardon of Pilate, was spared from the same fate. In a symbolic gesture, Jesus takes the place of Barabbas in this crucifixion.
The text describes the customary practice of compelling the condemned to carry the crossbeam to the crucifixion site. Jesus, having already endured scourging, is not subjected to further physical punishment. The journey to Golgotha, the official crucifixion site of Jerusalem, is marked by the captain leading the procession, carrying boards with inscriptions detailing the names and crimes of the condemned.
The inscription on Jesus’ cross, stating “Jesus of Nazareth—the King of the Jews,” becomes a point of contention between Pilate and some of the Jewish authorities. Despite their protests, Pilate remains resolute.
As the procession moves through the streets of Jerusalem, some compassionate women, moved by Jesus’ words and deeds, weep for him. In response, Jesus redirects their sorrow, expressing concern for the impending troubles that will befall the holy city of Jerusalem. This moment demonstrates Jesus’ selflessness even in the face of his own impending death.
The physical toll on Jesus becomes evident as he struggles under the weight of the crossbeam. Simon from Cyrene is compelled to assist, carrying the burden for the remainder of the journey. Simon’s role in the crucifixion account is later mentioned, as he becomes a believer in the Gospel and leads his family into the heavenly kingdom.
Our reading today shows us the brutality of crucifixion, a Roman form of execution adopted from the Phoenicians. Jesus’ path to Golgotha is marked by physical and emotional suffering, illustrating the sacrifice he willingly undertakes for the sake of humanity. The account concludes with the arrival at Golgotha, where the Roman soldiers proceed with the grim task of nailing the condemned to their crosses, marking the beginning of the crucifixion ordeal.
Life Lessons
There are several life lessons which we can learn from our reading today. The following are a few I would like to cover.
The Master’s voluntary submission to the crucifixion exemplifies selflessness and obedience to a higher purpose. The life lesson here is the power of self-sacrifice for the greater good, showing us the importance of making sure our actions are in line with a higher calling or purpose that the Creator wants for us.
To me, the act of Jesus taking the place of Barabbas conveys a lesson in the redemptive power of substitutionary acts. Some might take issue with that statement. It prompts me to reflect on the possibility for change when we bear the burdens of others willingly, developing a rea sense of compassion and empathy.
Imagine what Jesus was going through during the crucifixion ordeal. The physical and emotional toll on Jesus during the journey to Golgotha teaches the lesson of endurance in the face of trials. To me, the idea is presented that even in the most difficult of circumstances, we can find strength to persevere with our faith.
Simon from Cyrene’s transformation from a compelled helper to a believer in the Gospel illustrates the power of faith. This teaches that authentic belief in the gospel leads to personal growth, real change, and the potential to influence others in a good way.
Questions
Who was the centurion in charge of the soldiers accompanying Jesus to the crucifixion, and what was his previous involvement with Jesus?
Why were the two thieves crucified with Jesus, and what fate did they narrowly escape due to Pilate’s Passover pardon?
According to Jesus, what is the significance of his impending death on the cross, and how does he describe his authority over his own life and the commandment he has received from the Father?
Describe the journey from the praetorium to Golgotha, including the details of how the condemned were prepared and the customs associated with their crucifixion.
What was the inscription on the notice carried by the centurion to be placed on Jesus’ cross, and how did it lead to a dispute with some of the Jewish authorities?
Explain the significance of the procession’s route to Golgotha and the custom of crucifixion as described in the narrative.
How did the compassionate actions of some Jewish women towards Jesus during the procession violate the law, and what did Jesus advise them in response?
Who was Simon from Cyrene, and how did he become involved in carrying Jesus’ crossbeam? What later role did he play in the spread of the gospel?
What physical and emotional challenges did Jesus face on the way to Golgotha, and how did the soldiers and Simon respond to his condition?
What were the circumstances surrounding the arrival at Golgotha, and how did the Roman soldiers begin the process of crucifying Jesus and the two thieves?
What are a few life lessons that we learn from this account?
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