Jesus’ Pain Became Our Gain Text: Matthew 27:32-44
32And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
33And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
34They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
35And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
36And sitting down they watched him there;
37And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
39And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
40And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
41Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
42He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
43He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
44The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
Christ finally breaks under the weight of the cross. But remember, before Golgotha Jesus had suffered the agony in the garden of Gethsemane, He had suffered the tension and excitement of the trails, and He also suffered the ridicule and torture of the soldiers!
Therefore, He breaks under the weight of the cross that weighed around 30 to 40 pounds. A man from Cyrene (a city in North Africa) Simon by name a gentile was commanded to carry the cross for Jesus but because of this event used by God, Simon’s life was forever changed!
They came to the place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull. (A place of death, agony, despair, and a place of dead men’s bones)
They gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink, but He refused it. (It was offered to Him to deaden His pain and agony.)
But as Hebrews 4:15-16 say’s, For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
From time to time we too suffer with pain, physically and mentally but because of Jesus Christ it shall pass!
Galatians 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”[
Vs. 35 Say’s, Then they crucified Him… Only slaves and the worst criminals who were not Roman citizens were executed in this manner! (It was known by all, that the crucifixion was the cruelest and most horrifying death!)
We read that as Jesus was hanging on the cross the people sat cursing Him and watching Him slowly die (I’m reminded that right now Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father Praying for us 24-7 He’s not mad at us!) Hebrews 7:25
The criminal always carried a sign somewhere on their body signifying their crime, and then the sign was affixed to the cross; the writing on the sign always fit the person’s crime. Up above Jesus’ head was written in three languages symbolizing the world. The sign was inscribed saying, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
The two thieves one on the left and one on the right were guilty of their crimes. (We too were guilty.)
II Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Then we read that all who passed by blasphemed Him. Also the Chief Priests, the scribes and elders all ridiculed Christ in four major ways: 1. As the Savior 2. As the king 3. As the Son of Man who trusted God perfectly. 4. As the Son of God!
And yet the Bible say’s For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
(Max Lucado said in his book “Grace for the Moment” Jesus was born crucified. “ The force behind the hammer wasn’t an angry mob…the hand squeezing the handle wasn’t a Roman infantry man… the verdict…wasn’t decided by jealous Jews. Jesus himself chose the nails…Had the soldier hesitated Jesus himself would have swung the mallet.” That’s how much He loves you!
Prayer.
