THE CROSS

William Barclay, in his comments on Mark 15: 21-28, states the following concerning the cross: “When the cross was prepared the criminal had to carry it to the place of execution...In front there marched a soldier carrying a board on which was the crime of which the prisoner was guilty. The board was afterwards affixed to the cross. They took not the shortest but the longest way to the place of execution. They followed every possible street and lane so that as many as possible should see and take warning. When they reached the place of crucifixion, the cross was laid flat on the ground. The prisoner was stretched upon it , and his hands were nailed to it. The feet were not nailed but only loosely bound. Between the prisoner’s legs there projected a ledge of wood called the saddle, which was to take his weight when the cross was raised upright or the nails would have torn through the flesh of the hands. The cross was then lifted upright and set in its socket-and the criminal was left to die. The cross was not tall. It was shaped like the letter T and had no top piece at all. Sometimes prisoners hung for as long as a week, dying of hunger and of thirst, suffering until they went mad.”

HELP

Jesus needed help in carrying His cross. John 19:17 says, “And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.” Mark 15:21 states, “Then they compelled ...Simon... to bear His cross.” What happened? Perhaps Jesus was getting physically weak. Think about His last week and His last hours. The cross of Jesus can remind us of Jesus’ sorrow, suffering and death. Think about this. If Jesus needed Simon to help carry the cross, then for sure all of us, at times, need our “Simon” too.

LAST WORDS FROM THE CROSS

• “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” - Luke 23:34
• “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.’-Luke 23:43
• “Woman behold your son.” - John 19:26
• “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” -Matt. 27:46
• “I Thirst.” -John 19:28
• “It is finished.”- John 19:30
• “Into your hands I commend my spirit.” - Luke 23:46

LAST WORDS FROM CROWD

• “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself. If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” -Matt. 27:40
• “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.” -Matt. 27:42
• “He trusted in God, let Him deliver Him now.” - Matt. 27:43
• “…If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.” -Luke 23:39
• “...Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” - Luke 23:42
• “...Truly this Man was the Son of God.” - Mark 15:39

CAN DO

We write about, think about, preach about, teach about and sing about the cross. Perhaps no death is any worse than a death on the cross. Jesus died for me and you. What can we do? Live for Him. Be in your place every Sunday. Come with a Bible in your hand and a spring in your step and a smile on your face. I’ll look for you.

-Pat Casey