Mocked, Crucified, and Victorious: Jesus Suffered for You

Summary

Roman soldiers mocked Jesus with a crown of thorns, beat Him, and led Him to crucifixion. He suffered silently, refusing pain relief, and took humanity’s place on the cross. Darkness marked God’s judgment as Jesus bore separation from the Father. His death tore the temple curtain, opening access to God. Jesus endured ridicule, suffering, and death so you could be forgiven and restored.

Jesus Mocked as King

After Jesus’ trial, soldiers took Him to the Praetorium in Herod’s palace. Perhaps, they threw a military cloak over His shredded and bleeding back. They made a crown from a prickly plant. They pressed it into His scalp.

The robe and crown were mock symbols of royalty. They made fun of Him by shouting, “Hail, king of the Jews!” (Mark 15:18 NIV), a takeoff on “Hail, Emperor Caesar!”

They clubbed Jesus’ head with a staff, driving the thorny crown into His scalp. Blood flowed freely. They kept spitting on Him.

They pretended to worship Him. They removed the mock robe and put His clothes back on Him. They led Him through Jerusalem to the place of crucifixion.

Silent Suffering and Sacrifice

They ridiculed and mocked Him. He suffered silently and courageously.

He suffered in your place to pay the penalty for your sin. Because He did, the same Holy Spirit that empowered Him can now empower you when people ridicule and mock you for your faith.

The Weight of the Cross

Those sentenced to crucifixion usually carried a 30-40-pound wooden crosspiece to their execution site. Jesus was too weak to bear it to Golgotha.

The Romans forced Simon of Cyrene to carry the crosspiece the rest of the way when Jesus could no longer. At Golgotha, someone offered Jesus wine mixed with myrrh.

It was a narcotic to deaden the pain of crucifixion. Jesus refused it. He endured the suffering with all senses intact.

Jesus Suffered for You

Along with Barabbas, the thieves in verse twenty-seven had probably rebelled against the Roman government. Jesus took Barabbas’ place on a cross. He took yours, too.

Some mocked Him as He hung there. The chief priests and teachers of the law said, “He saved others, but he can’t save himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe” (Mark 15:31-32 NIV). They didn’t need to be intellectually convinced, but to submit to Him.

Darkness, Death, and Separation

Between noon and 3:00 p.m., darkness engulfed Judah. It was a sign of God’s judgment (Exodus 10:21-23, Mark 13:24-25). At 3:00 p.m., Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34 NIV).

Jesus’ separation from the Father was the most unbearable part of His suffering. Then He cried out with a loud voice and died.

The Way into God’s Presence Opened

At that moment, the curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place in the Temple tore from top to bottom. That indicates the way into God’s holy presence is now open to you because of what Jesus has done.

Joseph of Arimathea requested permission to bury Jesus’ body. Pilate could have refused him.

Often, the Romans left bodies on crosses to rot or for animals to eat. Joseph of Arimathea placed Jesus’ body in a tomb cut out of rock. He rolled a stone against the entrance to close it.

The Romans mocked, beat, and crucified Jesus for you.

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