No Greater Grace – Luke 23:26-38

Was Jesus stripped totally nude for crucifixion?  There has been a lot of debate about this (see this helpful article).  It was the normal practice of Rome to completely strip the one crucified, to purposely shame him as much as possible.  But there are indications that in Jerusalem a concession might have been made to the sensibilities of the Jews that allowed a loin cloth to remain on the one killed.  A man wearing a loincloth was considered “naked” in a relative sense.

And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”  (Luke 23:26-38 ESV)

Luke does not mention that Jesus was scourged, a brutal whipping that would have left him too weak to bear the crossbeam of his own cross.  But Simon of Cyrene is pressed into that service, mentioned by name because he apparently became a believer after this.  Can you imagine being Simon of Cyrene?  Perhaps you were a casual disciple or not a disciple at all, but you can’t help stopping to watch this famous teacher plod his way to death.  Then you’re forced to help him because he is so weak.  You participate in his suffering.  You will go free at the end of the road, but he will not.  Do you stay to watch his crucifixion?  How could you not?  It changed him forever.

Jesus speaks to the mourning women of the coming judgment of God on His people, warning that women in that day will be glad not to have had children who have to experience that horror.  People will be in such dread that they will welcome, no, plead for death.  Have you ever been that scared?  Jerusalem will be like dry kindling to the fire.

Jesus is crucified between two criminals at The Skull (otherwise called Golgotha [Hebrew] or Calvary [Latin]) and, with great grace, asks His Father forgive those who are acting so ignorantly in this.  The soldiers cast lots to divide up his now unneeded garments (he is naked on the cross) and while most people watch muted in grief, the rulers and soldiers scoff at his designation as “King of the Jews.”  But the King, though treated with great indignity, has comported himself with the greatest of character and grace.  In truth, “This is the King of the Jews.”