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14. The Crucifixion (Mark 15:24-25)
MARK 15:24-25
24 Crucifying him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots on them, what each should take. 25 It was the third hour, and they crucified him.
The details of Christ’s crucifixion are absent from all of the Gospels. We read about the prints of the rusty nails with which his hands and feet were fastened to the accursed tree. It is most probable that the servants who were charged with crucifying him, threw him down, stripped him of his clothes, and nailed his hands mercilessly to the trunk.
Stop O heart! Recognize O mind, that the world tortures its Creator. The healing hand is pierced. The blood shed on the ground is holy. The love that had never neglected anyone is killed.
We worship you O meek Lamb of God, and we glorify you who took away the sin of the world. You took away my sin too, and sanctified me.
According to custom, those who were charged to carry out the execution, raised the transverse beam to which the body of the crucified was hanged, and fastened it against the standing vertical stake.
Finally, they nailed his feet, which had walked throughout the towns and cities of the land, one upon the other, with a long, strong nail.
How great was the torture and pure blood that dropped on the accursed earth because of the disobedience of men. They rejected the perfect man, the incarnate true God, crucified him, raising him from the earth, as if they said: “We do not want any relationship between him and the world.” Thus, they spitefully and wickedly took away him who had come to them.
Crucifixion was a satanic punishment, for it did not kill its victim immediately, but made him die a thousand deaths.
First, his wounded body was drawn down by its weight until his jagged wounds became greater and larger. Then his torn lacerated tendons and nerves caused excruciating agony, until he fainted. The arteries of the head and stomach were surcharged with blood and a terrific throbbing headache ensued. The mind was confused and filled with anxiety and dread foreboding. Fearful images attacked him, and his heart beat strongly, wildly, then bitterly, slowly, as if it were motionless. Hopelessness grew increasingly with hardness and final collapse. Crucifixion was recognized as being one of the most cruel and horrible forms of execution employed in the ancient world.
We worship you O Holy Lamb of God, for you took upon your body all the sins of the world. You also granted remission to the reader of these words. Grant him faith in complete salvation, and reconciliation to God through your sufferings and death.
The crucifixion of Jesus took place at 9.00 A.M.. To the Jews, the first division of the day commenced at six o’clock in the morning, which corresponds with our 9.00 A.M.
The third hour is here mentioned to intimate an aggravation of the wickedness of the Jewish priests and Roman governor who sent Jesus to death, scourged him, and took him to Golgotha before.
Ordinarily as such, as if it were a normal criminal case, the soldiers charged with the crucifixion sat down under the cross, and cast lots for his raiment, whose it should be. He carried his priestly garment to the end. They were not willing to divide it that it might not lose its precious value, so they cast lots especially for it.
Today, people move quickly in crowded markets. They count money in their hands, think of profits, and imagine unattainable schemes. Yet, they do not observe Jesus’ presence, and the truth of his crucifixion, nor do they sense the meaning of his self-sacrifice, nor become drawn towards him who was crucified without a sin, giving his holy life for everyone.
Dear reader, is your life directed toward the cross, the aim of your life, and the end of your thought? Do you long for the grace of the merciful Redeemer? The apostle Paul penetrated deeply into the love of the crucified Redeemer with all his heart when he wrote: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).
Luke told us the word which Jesus spoke at the first moments of his crucifixion: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34).
In this priestly prayer, Jesus included all the servants, and chief priests, as well as the Roman governor, and all men. The divine High Priest did not curse his killers, nor did he reject the multitudes of sinners, but he saved them, blessed them, and prayed for them; and truly, the Holy God answered his prayer. Recognize Jesus’ vicarious prayer while he was on the cross and you will be saved. You will be firmly established in salvation, thanking him by committing yourself to him gratefully.
PRAYER: O Man of sorrows, your love is beyond our understanding, and your power became greater in your weakness. You did not curse those who nailed you, but prayed for them, and saved us all. We believe that you interceded for us when you cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Help us to love you, and to see your cross always in our way as the center of our life, and the foundation of our faith, and the power of our works. I commit myself to you O Holy Lamb of God, for you took away all the sin of the world. Amen.
QUESTION:
- How was Jesus crucified?