Read
16Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be nailed to a cross.
Jesus Is Nailed to a Cross
(Matthew 27.32-44; Mark 15.21-32; Luke 23.26-43)
Jesus was taken away, 17and he carried his cross to a place known as “The Skull.” In Aramaic this place is called “Golgotha.” 18There Jesus was nailed to the cross, and on each side of him a man was also nailed to a cross.
19Pilate ordered the charge against Jesus to be written on a board and put above the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” 20The words were written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.
The place where Jesus was taken wasn't far from the city, and many of the people read the charge against him. 21So the chief priests went to Pilate and said, “Why did you write that he is King of the Jews? You should have written, ‘He claimed to be King of the Jews.’ ”
22But Pilate told them, “What is written will not be changed!”
23After the soldiers had nailed Jesus to the cross, they divided up his clothes into four parts, one for each of them. But his outer garment was made from a single piece of cloth, and it did not have any seams. 24 The soldiers said to each other, “Let's not rip it apart. We will gamble to see who gets it.” This happened so the Scriptures would come true, which say,
“They divided up my clothes
and gambled
for my garments.”
The soldiers then did what they had decided.
25Jesus' mother stood beside his cross with her sister and Mary the wife of Clopas. Mary Magdalene was standing there too. 26When Jesus saw his mother and his favorite disciple with her, he said to his mother, “This man is now your son.” 27Then he said to the disciple, “She is now your mother.” From then on, that disciple took her into his own home.
The Death of Jesus
(Matthew 27.45-56; Mark 15.33-41; Luke 23.44-49)
28 Jesus knew that he had now finished his work. And in order to make the Scriptures come true, he said, “I am thirsty!” 29A jar of cheap wine was there. Someone then soaked a sponge with the wine and held it up to Jesus' mouth on the stem of a hyssop plant. 30After Jesus drank the wine, he said, “Everything is done!” He bowed his head and died.
Reflect
Between Good Friday and Easter it is good to think about what Jesus accomplished by dying on the cross. As Christians we know that in some sense he died for us, but what does that mean?
The apostles, who were authorized by Jesus to answer this question, use a number of word-pictures. Here are five of them.
Sacrifice – The New Testament presents Jesus’ death as a sacrifice that fulfills the Old Testament sacrifices and secures the forgiveness of the one who trusts in God’s provision (Ephesians 5:2; 1 Peter 3:18).
Reconciliation – Sin also broke our relationship with God so that we are estranged from him. By his death Jesus brings us back into fellowship with God and we become part of his family (Colossians 1:19-20).
Redemption – In the Bible sin enslaves all who walk in its ways. People often think they are free but in reality they are captive to their evil desires and unable to escape. By his death, Jesus liberates those who are in bondage to sin and sets them free to serve God (Ephesians 1:7; Titus 2:14).
Justification – This legal word takes us into the courtroom. By his death, Jesus not only remits the guilt of his people but God declares us righteous on the basis of Christ’s representative obedience and redemptive death. This is an act of sheer mercy on God’s part toward us sinners (Romans 4:25).
Conquest – By his death, Jesus conquered the rebellious powers of the demonic world headed by Satan. These enemies have been defeated in principle and one day they will be banished forever (Colossians 2:13-15).
Respond
Dear Lord, thank you for all that you have done for us in Jesus. Thank you that his work on the cross satisfies all the demands of your holiness and meets all of our needs as sinners. Help us to believe that your grace is sufficient for us. Amen.
Kirk Wellum
Kirk Wellum is the Principal of Toronto Baptist Seminary and Bible College where he also teaches Systematic Theology and Pastoral Theology. Before coming to TBS in 2006 he served as a pastor for a total of 24 years in three churches in Southern Ontario, but primarily at Sovereign Grace Community Church in Sarnia where he was the founding pastor. He has written numerous articles for a variety of Christian magazines and has contributed chapters to a number of books. He speaks at conferences in Canada and the United States, as well as in other parts of the world. Kirk is married to Debbie and they have four children.