You can watch this post on You Tube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ntz6R3EOTs&t=318s
Luke 23:26-43 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2023%3A26-43&version=NIV
And so begins a procession from Pilate’s home in Jerusalem to a place outside the city known as the Skull where crucifixions were sometimes carried out. Crucifixions were intended to be slow, painful and humiliating. I’m told Roman executioners were very good at their job. Typically the process would begin with a severe beating which we have already seen happen to Jesus. The beating would leave them extremely depleted due to pain and blood loss. Prisoners often carried the cross on which they would be executed. At the place of execution, they would be stretched out on their crosses on the ground. Their arms and feet would either be tied to the cross or have large spikes nailed through the bones of their wrists and ankles. The nails had to go through boney spots so there was enough density of flesh to support the weight of the victim. If you have ever hung by your arms for any length of time, you may have noticed that it’s hard to breathe. To fill your lungs you have to pull yourself up, but when there are nails through your wrists, that hurts a lot. And even when you hang from bindings, pulling yourself up is exhausting. The actual cause of death for most crucifixion victims was suffocation coupled with organ failure (Shrier). The victim’s body would gradually be starved of oxygen causing multiple organ failures and massive fluid build up in and around the heart and lungs. If you are medically inclined or just curious, I’ve linked to a simple but academic website article that provides more information. https://www.apu.edu/articles/the-science-of-the-crucifixion/
It’s more than a little fascinating to notice how many of the old Messianic prophecies actually describe various aspects of death by crucifixion. Although the religious leaders of the day didn’t see it coming, the scriptures clearly did. For the purposes of understanding this account of the crucifixion you only really need to know it was horrific, it was humiliating and it was slow.
Luke tells us that a man named Simon, who appears to have been randomly passing by, was forced into the procession to carry Jesus’ cross. Presumably Jesus was too weak from the beating. Word of Jesus’ covert arrest had gotten out and crowds were again gathering. Among those following him were several women mourning and wailing. Even now, in the midst of this death march, his heart is burdened for Jerusalem and the people he loves. He warns the weeping women that a day of terrible destruction is coming, one that will make them wish they never had kids who would have to live through it. He quotes an earlier prophecy when he says it will be such a time of suffering that people will wish the mountains would crush them and end their agony. His comment about the green and dry trees suggests that if people could do evil things in that moment when there was relative peace and prosperity, they would be infinitely more vile when Jerusalem came under attack and there was scarcity and suffering all around.
Jesus has never been an average guy. I know this, but he still surprises me. I feel like there comes a point where the only person you can really think about is yourself. Physically and emotionally, Jesus is in some of the worst kind of pain a person can experience, and he is concerned about the people around him. It’s not just the women who are following him either. That would at least make sense. But no. He looks at his executioners, who have stripped him and are basically playing poker on their lunch break to see who gets to keep his outfit, and prays that God would forgive them for what they are doing. I mean, why? What kind of person is concerned for the people who are killing him?
Look at this gathered crowd. For the average passerby, this is the proverbial trainwreck. They don’t want to see it, but they can’t look away. The religious leaders are there too. They were up all night, but they aren’t missing this part. They have won, and now they’re enjoying the victory. They mock him. For some reason they find joy in the fact that the one who helped so many can’t seem to help himself. They decide that is proof enough that he isn’t their Messiah. The soldiers who, while nailing him to the cross had placed a sign above him that announced to onlookers that Jesus was King of the Jews, take delight in the defencelessness of this would-be king. Even one of the prisoners who was being crucified alongside him takes the opportunity to mock him.
In the midst of all this hateful ugliness, we hear a contrasting voice. Ironically, it’s not from one of the religious or political authorities who should be speaking up. It’s one of the criminals. Apparently he had heard enough about Jesus to know that he didn’t deserve the abuse. He also seemed to understand that he and the other prisoner had earned their punishment. While everyone else mocked the man they believed would never be king, the criminal dying beside him asked Jesus to remember him when he came into his kingdom. Somebody there understood who Jesus was. The man on the cross beside Jesus knew that he was the innocent Son of God. But I don’t think even he expected Jesus’ response.
In the words of the condemned man dying beside him, Jesus recognized faith. He heard repentance, an acknowledgement that he had done wrong. And he heard belief. The man believed that Jesus was who he claimed to be, and that was enough. In no uncertain terms Jesus promises him that he won’t have to remember him in his kingdom, because he will be there. In the middle of this absolutely hideous scene, this suffering, dying Jesus speaks with confidence and extends grace and hope. I want to say, who is this guy? But we already know. A dying criminal just told us.
