Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
There are any number of ways that a prisoner could be conveyed from the governor’s palace to the place of execution. They could be carried on a cart, tied to a horse, dragged, or made to walk. In Jesus’ case, he had to carry his cross.
Was he carrying the whole cross or only the top crossbar?
I don’t know. I don’t imagine that it matters. Having been flogged across the back and shoulders there would be nothing left to safely lean a piece of wood on. Any pressure would hurt. Rough wood on a torn back would be excruciatingly painful.
The soldiers would be obligated to make the process as painful as possible. The humiliation of the “criminal” was paramount. The pain would be blinding. The noise and jeers of the soldiers painful to hear. The shame of being treated like a criminal dehumanizing. In fact, the whole process de-humanized a person.
The place of the Skull is not known for certain today but we know it was close to the city and outside of the city walls. It was near a main road so that people could see what happens to those who deserve punishment. (Golgotha comes from the Aramaic word for “skull” and Calvary is derived from the Latin word for the same thing.)
Carrying his cross, Jesus walked… (Did they even let him wear sandals or was he barefoot?)
Carrying his cross, Jesus walked for what must have seemed like an eternity. Taunted, whipped, prodded by Roman soldiers, surrounded by jeering, spitting Jews. Laughter ringing in his ears.
I am reminded of what Jesus said in his Sermon on the Mount:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.“
(Matthew 5: 38-42)
Application: Jesus didn’t just die on the cross for us, he also carried our cross for us. He taught us to endure evil people. This is perhaps the hardest lesson of all.
Food for Thought: Sometimes crosses can be big, sometimes they can be small. How would you define the word “cross” the way I just used it?
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Excruciating is a word that literally means “out of the cross.” I think it is hard to find a word that matches the torture of the cross. Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame for the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12: 2). I think the joy set before Him was more than returning to the Father. We were the joy set before Him. He kept His eyes on the prize and we follow His example by keeping our eyes on Him (Hebrews 12: 2 – 3).
Thanks Rich!
Keeping our eyes on Him will get us through our own trials.