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Matthew 27:31-56; Mark 15:20-41; Luke
23:26-49; John 19:17-30.
Historical Setting:
Time: Friday, April 7, A.D. 30,
9 a.m to 3 p.m.
Place: Calvary (Golgotha), just
outside the city of Jerusalem.
Persons: Christ,
centurion and Roman soldiers, priests and Jewish multitude,
Simon of Cyrene, Mary Magdalene, Mary, mother of James the
younger and Joses, Salome, other women, John.
The trial is over. The sentence of death has been
pronounced upon Christ. The soldiers yank the Royal robes off
Jesus, and He is clothed once again in His own garments.
Because a cruel Roman law required that a prisoner must bear
his own cross, the heavy cross is laid upon Jesus’ shoulders.
The procession to Calvary has begun. Led by a centurion,
surrounded by a guard of four soldiers and accompanied by two
thieves, who were also to be crucified that day, Jesus is led
to Calvary’s Hill for His crucifixion. The place of
crucifixion was not far from the city, but the long hours
without food or sleep, and the torture which Jesus has
suffered, has left Him weak. He stumbles and falls under the
weight of the cross. This annoys the hardhearted guards. They
want this thing to come to a culmination, but they can see
that the Prisoner cannot proceed.
Simon’s journey is almost over. He has traveled all the way
from Cyrene, Libya, for the Passover celebration. As he enters
the city he meets up with a crowd of people. What is this?
Upon looking further he notices three men carrying crosses,
egged on by soldiers prodding them with spears. As he gets
closer he sees one Man fall. The rough soldiers are just in
the process of forcing the Man to His feet when they notice
this stranger approaching. They know he is a stranger by the
way he dresses, and because he isn’t agitated, as were the
rest of the crowd around this procession. Suddenly Simon feels
a strong hand on his shoulder. A soldier has grabbed him and
is pulling him toward the fallen Man. Simon tries to break
away, but finds that his effort is futile. He looks into the
stumbling Man’s face, and feels pity for Him. Next thing Simon
knows, the soldiers have placed the cross on him. He is forced
to carry the cross for Jesus. Simon didn’t know this at the
time, but he soon learns that what he is doing was the best
thing that ever happened to him. I am imagining that during
the rest of the trip Jesus speaks softly to Simon, telling him
who He is. I am imagining that Simon listens, and believes
what Jesus is telling him.
All I could learn about Simon was that
he was the father of Rufus and Alexander, prominent Christians
in Rome. How they became Christians I do not know. Perhaps it
was that Simon carried the news back to his own country and
spread it around there.
Slowly the procession moves along the road, which would
later be called the Way of Sorrow (Via Dolorosa), because of
this sorrowful trip. Many people are following, some attracted
by an idle curiosity, others spurred on by hatred, hungrily
devouring this cruelty, and wanting to see it to the finish.
Jesus can hear their taunts and cries of contempt. He can hear
children echoing what their parents are crying–the children
whom He loved with a special passion, the children whom He had
bid to come unto Him, possibly even some of the children who
sat on His knee. It isn’t their fault. They are only imitating
their parents’ words. And it isn’t the fault of the parents,
either. They don’t know any better. They are only following
what their religious leaders tell them.
But everyone in the crowd isn’t gloating. There are many
who walk along, their hearts filled with love and breaking
with sorrow. They had seen Jesus perform miracles, healing the
sick and even raising the dead. Some of these are men and
women and children who possibly themselves had been healed by
Jesus over the three years of His ministry. Jesus can hear the
cries of this group, too. His heart goes out to these,
especially the woman and children, who are sobbing loudly in
their grief and agony. Jesus, despite His suffering and
fatigue, turns at the sound of their weeping and says, “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for Me but
weep for yourselves and your children.”
Jesus could see ahead into the future. He knows that in
forty years time the Roman legions will rampage the city,
setting houses on fire, destroying the temple, slaughtering
husbands, raping wives, and carrying children off into
slavery. So despite His suffering, He reaches out in pity for
these people who were following Him out of love. He feels
their future suffering, and tells them not to waste their
tears on Him. His message is for the ones, too, who have
hatred in their hearts for Him. He warns them that they are
bringing terror and judgment on themselves.
Following the procession on this day also, are the people
who are close to Jesus. There is His disciple, John, who has
remained true, though often following at a distance. Also,
following at a distance (Mark 15:40, 41), are Mary
Magdalene; Mary, who is the mother of James the younger and of
Joses; and Salome. These women used to follow Him and look
after him when he was in Galilee. Many other women also are
there, who had come with Him to Jerusalem. These women, whose
hearts are breaking, can see only what is happening at the
present. They cannot comprehend, nor do they remember Jesus’
teaching that He would rise again on the third day. This truth
is blocked from their minds now as they watch this painful
procession to Calvary. They will follow Him all the way, and
they will witness His cruel death. (Next study)
And the angels are present too. But only Jesus knows of
their presence. He could call on them at any time to free Him
from this predicament. They had attended Him on other
occasions: they had heralded Him when He became human and was
lying in a manger in Bethlehem; they administered to Him when
He had been tempted of the devil in the wilderness; they had
come to Him again just a few hours ago when He agonized in the
Garden of Gethsemane. But now they can only watch and wonder.
It would be so easy for them to destroy the cruel mobs that
are gloating over Jesus’ suffering, but they had not been
given permission.
© Helen Dowd
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