Today’s Reading: Mark 15:22-32, Luke 23:26-43, John 19:17-22

So they took Jesus away. Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). – John 19:16b-17

WHAT KIND OF LOVE IS THIS THAT HE WOULD WALK THIS ROAD?

After the beating he had received, it is hard to fathom that he would even have the strength to bear the weight of the cross. Imagine the pain of the wood against the open sores on his back; imagine the pain of the thorns digging deeper into his head. This walk to Golgotha would have been physically painful, but also spiritually heavy as he carried not only his cross but mine.

WHAT KIND OF LOVE IS THIS THAT HE WOULD CARRY MY CROSS?

They led Jesus away, walking up a road leading to the place called Golgotha. At one point, the soldiers either had some compassion for Jesus or they became impatient with how long it was taking our wounded Lord to carry the cross. They seized a man named Simon who was walking by, and they made him carry the cross behind Jesus. A large crowd followed, including many grief-stricken women. Even in that awful moment, Jesus had compassion on the broken-hearted following this procession.

WHAT KIND OF LOVE IS THIS THAT HE WOULD CARE FOR THOSE WHO MOURN?

But Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are coming when they will say, ‘Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.’ People will beg the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and plead with the hills, ‘Bury us.’ For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” – Luke 23:28-31

If this could take place while the Messiah himself was in their presence — the promised Messiah the Jews had been waiting for generation after generation — what kind of evil would take place after Jesus was gone? This prophecy of what was to come had a tone of concern. Jesus loved the people he was about to leave behind; he loved those he had done life with over the last three years.

And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). They offered him wine drugged with myrrh, but he refused it.

Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross. They divided his clothes and threw dice to decide who would get each piece…

The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Ha! Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, save yourself and come down from the cross!” – Mark 15:22-32

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” – Luke 23:34

WHAT KIND OF LOVE IS THIS THAT HE WOULD FORGIVE?

The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. – Luke 23:35-36

One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”

But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” – Luke 23:39-43

Again, the compassion of Jesus is displayed. Even while he was suffering, he was thinking of the purpose for which he was dying – salvation. The same Jesus who took the time to heal a blind man and then tell him to go and sin no more was now redeeming the life of the criminal beside him. This reveals to us the heart of our Savior; this shows us just how much he loves us. It shows us that he is willing to redeem even that part of our story we are most ashamed of.

Father God, thank you for sending your Son to die for our sins. Jesus, thank you for all you suffered in order that we may experience salvation. Spirit, remind us throughout this weekend of the LOVE we are so blessed to experience each day. Guide us, teach us, lead us, fill us. Amen.