Early on Friday morning of Holy Week, after being dragged around all night, falsely accused, beaten, and convicted by the high priest, Jesus was handed over to Pilate, the Roman governor, under false charges. Pilate asked Jesus if he was the king of the Jews, and Jesus responded, “You have said so” (Mark 15:2, ESV).  

Pilate had no real interest in punishing Jesus. He correctly saw that the religious leaders were jealous of him, so he offered up a bargaining chip. It was customary to release a prisoner during the Passover feast as a gesture of peace. He selected a terrible murderer named Barabbas, who nobody wanted roaming the streets. However, the religious leaders were so outraged by Jesus that they incited the crowd to demand Barabbas’s release instead. Unwilling to do what was right and trying to please the crowd, Pilate ordered Jesus to be crucified. 

The Romans showed no compassion for Jesus. They took their aggression out on him and mocked him as the King of the Jews. They dressed him in a purple robe, placed a crown of thorns on his head, and bowed before him as they beat him and spat on him. 

Then they went to Golgotha, a publicly visible hill where executions were held on the main road so everyone could see. Jesus was too weak to carry his cross, so they forced a man named Simon from Cyrene to do it for him. Mark even mentions the names of his two sons. This is probably because people in the first century could interview these individuals and get firsthand accounts. 

It was the third hour of the day, 9:00 AM, when Jesus was crucified between two thieves. They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, a substance meant to numb the pain, but Jesus declined it. The Roman guards cast lots to divide Jesus’ clothes as he hung naked on the cross. It was customary to place a sign above them to inform onlookers of the crime that led to their execution. Jesus' sign read, “King of the Jews.” From the Romans' perspective, this was the execution of a rebel against the Emperor. To the Jews, it was an indictment of what might have been. The people passing by mocked Jesus, and the religious leaders joined in, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe” (Mark 15:31-32, ESV). 

Three hours later, at noon, Jesus cried out with the opening line of Psalm 22, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me” (Mark 15:34, ESV). Note: He was likely quoting the entire psalm, but he could only utter the first line because he lacked the strength after hanging on the cross for hours. In Aramaic, these words sounded like “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” This led people to think that Jesus was calling out to Elijah, the prophet, for help. They offered him vinegar to drink, but they continued to mock him until Jesus let out a loud cry, took his last breath, and died. 

At that moment, the curtain of the innermost sacred room in the temple, the Holy of Holies, was torn in two from top to bottom. This marked the final judgment against the worship in the temple. It would no longer serve as a place where people could come and bring their atoning sacrifices before God. Jesus is our mediator between God and man. Everyone who puts their faith in him is welcomed into his holy presence. 

Interestingly, the Roman centurion who had been overseeing the crucifixions saw something in Jesus that caused him to exclaim, “Truly this man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39, ESV)! We don’t know much more about this man, but he had clearly seen what the religious leaders had not. Jesus was unlike any criminal who had been crucified under his watch. He was divine. 

Mark notes the women who witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion. They had been with Jesus, caring for his needs since Galilee. Joseph of Arimathea, a follower of Jesus and member of the Jewish council, gathered the courage to ask Pilate for Jesus’ body so he could bury him before the Sabbath. The women also saw the tomb where he was laid. 

One thing that stands out to me about the crucifixion story is that we only see the surface-level abuses Jesus endured. Mark is concise in his descriptions and doesn't dwell on Jesus’ suffering. However, by quoting Psalm 22, he provides deeper insight into the internal suffering Jesus experienced. As he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before, Jesus faced the cup of God’s wrath for the sins of mankind. 

I have often heard it said that the same people who praised Jesus during the Triumphal Entry were calling for his crucifixion in Pilate’s court. However, I don’t believe the text supports that detail. Surely, the crowds on Sunday misunderstood who Jesus truly was. But the religious leaders had orchestrated this entire plan to arrest Jesus at night and have him convicted and crucified before the crowds could intervene. Still, the absence of anyone coming to his aid underscores the loneliness of Jesus as he suffered on the cross. 

Very few people recognized who Jesus truly was. The Roman centurion joins the unnamed woman who anointed Jesus on the Wednesday before as one of those who saw what many had missed. 

I encourage you today to gather with other believers. Read through the account of Jesus’ suffering on the cross. Sit in silence and darkness, and consider what Jesus accomplished on our behalf. We need to linger a little longer at the foot of the cross. Let it sink in. Allow the love of Christ to change us so that we will live for him.

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