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Crucifixion (Mk 15:16-41; Mt 27:27-56; Lk 23:26-49; Jn 19:17-30)

There are three stages from delivering of Jesus after the verdict to his death on the cross.

(1st stage: mocked by soldiers) (v16-19)

After Pilate had made the verdict to crucify Jesus according to the people’s desire, he handed Jesus to the Roman soldiers. “The soldiers led him away into the hall (‘the common hall’ (衙門), Matt 27:27), called Pretorium (帶進衙門院裡); and they call together the whole band (叫齊了全營的兵) (‘the whole band of soldiers’, Matt 27:27).” (v16) This hall is different from the judgment hall in which Jesus was questioned by Pilate (John 18:28). It is also different from the place called the Pavement where Pilate sat on the judgment seat and announced the verdict (John 19:13).

In this so called Pretorium, Jesus was mocked by the soldiers:

  1. “they stripped him (給他脫了衣服)” (Matt 27:27)

  2. “scourged him” (John 19:1)

  3. “they clothed him with purple (紫袍) (v17)

  4. “plaited a crown of thorns (用荊棘編做冠冕), and put it about his head” (v17)

  5. “a reed (一根葦子) in his right hand” (Matt 27:29) (the reed represents the king’s staff; “a staff of reed” Ezek 29:6)

  6. “began to salute him (慶賀他說), ‘Hail (恭喜), King of the Jews!’ ” (v18) (“they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ ”, Matt 27:29)

  7. “they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.” (v19) (“they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head”, Matt 27:30)

Luke only recorded Jesus being mocked by Herod and his soldiers: “Herod with his men of war set him at nought (希律和他的兵丁就藐視耶穌), and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe (給他穿上華麗衣服).” (Luke 23:11) As for John’s account, Jesus was mocked by the soldiers before Pilate announced the verdict. (John 19:1-5) At that moment, Pilate just intended to punish Jesus to ease off the tense situation between him and the Jewish people before releasing Jesus. So he handed Jesus over to the soldiers to scourge him. After the soldiers had scourged and mocked Jesus, Pilate brought Jesus out from the judgment hall to the chief priests and the people, and declared him guiltless. Jesus was carried out wearing the purple robe and the crown of thorns on his head. That is to say, John’s record is quite different from the records of Matthew and Mark in terms of the time sequence of this mocking event.

(2nd stage: led to Calvary) (v20-22)

“When they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian (古利奈人西門), who passed by, coming out of the country (從鄉下來), the father of Alexander (亞歷山大) and Rufus (魯孚), to bear his cross.” (v20-21) Simon, who was forced by the soldiers to bear the cross on behalf of Jesus, was a Gentile. According to John 19:16-17, Jesus first took the cross by himself as he walked out of the hall: “And they took Jesus, and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth …” Simon took the cross from Jesus in mid-way. After all, after being scourged by the soldiers, Jesus was too weak to bear a heavy cross uphill to the place of execution. Simon was only a passers-by, so it was certainly by accident that he took up this sacred duty of bearing the cross for the Son of God. One of his sons, Rufus, was mentioned in Paul’s greetings to the church in Rome: “Salute Rufus (魯孚) chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine (他的母親就是我的母親).” (Rom 16:13) So, Simon’s two sons, Alexander and Rufus, were known among the disciples at the time of writing the Gospel of Mark.  

Luke 23:27-32 recorded the words spoken by Jesus on the way to Mount Calvary: “And there followed him (Jesus) a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, “Blessed are the barren (不生育的), and the wombs that never bare (和未曾懷胎的), and the paps which never gave suck (未曾乳養嬰孩的).” Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us, and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree (這些事既行在有汁水的樹上), what shall be done in the dry (那枯乾的樹將來怎麼樣呢)?’ And there were also two others, malefactors (犯人), led with him to be put to death.” When Jesus saw the women weeping behind him, he had these women in mind more than himself. He warned them again of the great tribulation the Jews would encounter at the end of ages, particularly those pregnant women and those with babies in times of affliction: “But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!” (Mark 13:17) The above passage also mentioned two other criminals who would be crucified together with Jesus. These two criminals had to bear their own crosses uphill.

(Note: “For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?” One Bible commentary interprets this verse as such: a green tree refers to the innocent and the dry tree refers to the wicked people. Jesus was implying that he himself was innocent and still had to bear such ordeal, how much greater the ordeal would be for the wicked Jews?) (Source: “The Bible—CGST Study Edition,” p1529. Edited by China Graduate School of Theology, 1st Edition, Nov. 2000.)

“They bring him unto the place Golgotha (各各他), which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull (髑髏地).” (v22) Golgotha is the Hebrew name (John 19:17, “a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha.”); its English name is Calvary (Luke 23:33, “the place, which is called Calvary”). The Latin name of ‘Calvary’ is ‘Calvaria’ in Latin’s Bible (武加大譯本), meaning ‘skull’. Many criminals that were executed on Mount Calvary had no one to bury them, leaving behind the bones scattering all over the place.

(3rd stage: crucified on the cross) (v23-41)

[drink wine of vinegar]

Before Jesus was crucified, “they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh (沒藥調和的酒), but he received it not.” (v23) Matt 27:34 stated that “they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall (苦膽調和的酒); and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.” Probably, the drink that they gave Jesus to drink was for anaesthesia purpose to reduce his pain of being nailed. Jesus refused to drink the wine, perhaps because he insisted on bearing the suffering of being nailed.

[allot garments]

“When they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.” (v24) Matt 27:35 says, “And 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.’ ” John 19:23-24 gives more details: “Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part (每兵一份); and also his coat (又拿他的裏衣); now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout (這件裏衣原來沒有縫兒，是上下一片織成的). They said therefore among themselves, ‘Let us not rend it (不要撕開), but cast lots for it, whose it shall be (看誰得著),’ that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, ‘They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots.’ (他們分了我的外衣，為我的裏衣拈鬮) This verse is quoted from Psalm 22:18. In fact, Psalm 22 is a psalm that aptly describes Jesus’ feeling when he was crucified on the cross.

[the timing of the crucifixion]

“It was the third hour, and they crucified him (釘他在十字架上是巳初的時候).” (v25) The third hour was nine o’clock in the morning. Mark 15:33 said that “when the sixth hour (午正) was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour (申初).” The period of the darkness covered three hours from 12 pm to 3 pm. Matt 27:45 and Luke 23:44 also recorded the same dark period. John had no record of this dark period, but it recorded that when Jesus was waiting to be sentenced in the place called the Pavement, it was about the sixth hour: “When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement…and about the sixth hour (約有午正)” (John 19:13-14) John’s record implied that Jesus was crucified in the afternoon. Obviously, there is a timing difference of the hour when Jesus was nailed on the cross by the soldiers. Since all three books (Matthew, Mark and Luke) mentioned the darkness of the whole land from the 6th hour to the 9th hour, it seems that the timing recorded by those three books is more accurate. However, if we assume that Jesus was nailed on the cross about the third hour, that means all the events that took place before he was crucified--from the moment of Pilate beginning the judgment process to Jesus being mocked by the soldiers and taken to Golgotha--had already taken place by nine o’clock in the morning. It is hard to imagine how these events all proceeded and finished within two to three hours in the morning. Nevertheless, so long as we focus more on the events that actually took place during that morning of the Passover, we may just neglect the exact time when those events occurred.

[the name of the crime]

“The superscription of his accusation (罪狀) was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” (v26) The other three books recorded similarly:

“THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS” (Matt 27:37)

“THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS” (Luke 23:38)

“JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS” (John 19:19)

Both Luke and John recorded that the above superscription was written in three languages: “And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew (用希臘、羅馬、希伯來的文字).” (Luke 23:38) John 19:19-20 said, “Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews, for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city; and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.” Jesus’ era was under the Greco-Roman civilization. Greek and Latin were both common languages in Roman Empire. The Hebrew letter was for the traditional Jews and the other two languages were for the Gentiles or the civilized Jews in other provinces beyond the land of Israel. So, visitors from near or afar could read the superscription.

John 19:21-22 continued, “Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, ‘Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.’ Pilate answered, ‘What I have written I have written.’ ” The chief priests felt uncomfortable with the title because they hated Jesus for claiming himself as their king. They were probably ashamed and embarrassed when the Gentiles saw that ‘the King of the Jews’ was crucified. The fact that Pilate refused to change the title as they requested seemed to proclaim to the whole world that Jesus was truly the King of the Jews in the sense that he was the true Messiah (the anointed one) that the Jews had been yearning for. Such title was extremely strange to everyone as it was weird to equate it with serious crimes such as murder that deserved capital punishment. It further hinted the injustice behind the judgment.

“And with him they crucify two thieves (強盜); the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors (他被列在罪犯之中).’ ” (v27-28) This verse was quoted from Isaiah 53:12 where it said, “and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53 is a chapter of prophesying the purpose of Jesus’ coming and his death.

[the mockers]

Many people were watching Jesus and the two thieves while they were being suspended on the crosses. Many of the observers mocked Jesus again.

(the passers-by) 
“And they that passed by railed on (辱罵) him, wagging their heads (搖著頭), and saying, ‘Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, Save thyself, and come down from the cross.’ ” (v29-30) Matt 27:39-40 said, “And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and 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.’ ” People still had the impression that Jesus was too haughty when he made the above pronouncements. Their rational mind told them that if he were truly the Son of God, he should have no problem coming down from the cross and saving himself out of the woods.

(the rulers)
“And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.’ ” (Luke 23:35)

(the chief priests, the scribes, the elders)
“Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, ‘He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.’ " (v31-32) Matt 27:41,43 said, “Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, ‘…He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him, for he said, I am the Son of God.’ ” These Jewish leaders thought that even if Jesus could not save himself, his God should also save him. But would they truly believe him if he came down from the cross at that moment? If they believed him that way, they merely believed him by miracles.

Mark 8:11 states, “the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, ‘Why doth this generation seek after a sign? Verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.’ ” Paul says clearly in I Cor 1:21-23, “in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom. But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness.” Without understanding the real meaning of Jesus’ crucifixion, people will neither confess they are sinners, nor believe that Jesus can save us from the power of sin.

(soldiers)
“And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, and saying, ‘If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.’ ” (Luke 23:36-37)

(one of the thieves)
“And they that were crucified with him reviled (譏誚) him.” (v32) Matt 27:44 said, “The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth (也是這樣地譏誚他).” The thieves were nailed, one on the right and the other on the left of Jesus. Luke tells us that only one of them derided Jesus, and the other defended him. “And one of the malefactors (犯人) which were hanged railed on (譏笑) him, saying, ‘If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.’ But the other answering rebuked him, saying, ‘Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation (你既是一樣受刑的)? And we indeed justly (我們是應該的), for we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this man hath done nothing amiss (沒有做過一件不好的事).’ And he said unto Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom (你得國降臨的時候，求你記念我).’ And Jesus said unto him, ‘Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise (樂園).’ ” (Luke 23:39-43) Both thieves wanted to be saved at the moment of dying but their thinking was entirely different. One thief was not pleading with Jesus to save him but just mocked him with an unbelieving heart. He simply mocked Jesus that he claimed himself as savior but could not even save himself. His tone was no different from all the other mockers.

[the supporter]

On hearing of the first thief’s mocking, the other thief was very upset and his conscience began to speak in defense of the righteous man next to him. He first examined himself and admitted that he deserved the penalty for what he had done. Just like Pilate who once spoke with justice, this thief said that Jesus had done nothing that deserved death penalty. What surprised everyone was that he believed that Jesus was the king of a kingdom who someday in future would descend on earth! He only pleaded with Jesus to remember him on his return. This thief really fulfilled all the prerequisites to have the kind of faith that Jesus called for:

  1. He confessed his past sins.

  2. He believed that Jesus would somehow revive after death.

  3. He believed that Jesus was the ‘Lord’ of the kingdom that every Jew hoped for since the prophets had said that Christ would come.

  4. He asked Jesus to remember him, meaning that he still believed that his soul might somehow be saved by Jesus.

Another surprise came from Jesus’ response to his simple request: “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” What Jesus meant was that on the same day that he died with Jesus, his soul would be with Jesus’ soul in paradise! This was such a wonderful hope and promise granted by Jesus that far exceeded what the thief thought and asked for. He could hardly imagine that his soul would have a haven so soon as the same day he departed the world. This simple word of Jesus brings great comfort to every believer who is facing death in that we shall find a comfortable place as soon as we quit this world.

[other Jesus’ sayings on the cross]

There are a few other records of Jesus’ saying on the cross in the four Gospels. Jesus entrusted her mother Mary to his beloved disciple John: “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas (革羅罷的妻子), and Mary Magdalene (抹大拉的馬利亞). When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, ‘Woman, behold thy son!’ Then saith he to the disciple, ‘Behold thy mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” (John 19:25-27) Mary the mother of Jesus actually had other sons and daughters (Mark 6:3). She still had Joseph his husband and their home in Nazareth. Why would Jesus entrust his mother to his disciple? Of course, there is no explanation in the Gospel of John. There seemed no immediate need for Jesus’ mother to be taken care of by John or to live in his home. All we can see is that Jesus wanted his beloved disciple to provide the love and care to Mary that he himself had owed her. Perhaps he also wanted his mother not to feel so strongly that she had lost her son. Rather, instead of losing a beloved son, she got another beloved ‘son’. That was the best that Jesus could do as ‘the son of man’ for his mother at the last moment.

Apart from thinking of his mother, Luke 23:34 recorded Jesus thinking of all the sinners beneath the cross as well: “Then said Jesus, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’ ” People who hated Jesus had fulfilled their wish of crucifying not only the innocent man but their Messiah. While they kept on mocking Jesus beneath the cross without any guilty feeling with their conscience, Jesus cried to the righteous Father to forgive these people, for a reason that by itself alone was not strong enough to deserve forgiveness—they were ignorant of the seriousness of their evil deed when they committed such great sin willfully.

Will the Father listen to such heartful prayer request of his begotten Son to forgive these people? Of course, the righteous Father will not forgive those who do not confess their sins before Him. When the disciples asked their Lord to teach them to pray, Jesus taught them to pray for God’s forgiveness in this manner: “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.” (Luke 11:4) What’s more, they have to bear the heart of repentance and take effort to stay away from sin, as Jesus began his preaching as saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:15) Jesus still wanted to give everyone who offended him an opportunity to repent and be forgiven his sins, once he realized that the person he offended was truly the Christ as prophesied in the Bible.

[darkness of the sky]

Some horrific phenomenon occurred in the sky between 12 pm and 3 pm while Jesus was still being hoisted on the cross. “And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.” (v33) Matt 27:45 and Luke 23:44 had the same record. Luke 23:45 added that “And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent (裂為兩半) in the midst.” These three hours of darkness carried some symbolic meaning. It indicated that the whole situation was subjected to the power of Satan. Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Now Jesus, “the light of the world”, was overwhelmed and conquered by the power of darkness. When Jesus was arrested by his enemies, he said, “When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me; but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” (Luke 22:53) All the people around were also blinded and their conscience was covered by the darkness of sin. To them, this spectacular moment of darkness that appeared at bright day was so unnatural that it should remind everyone under the cross that the innocent man on the cross was no ordinary person.

According to Luke, another unnatural event that took place during the three hours was the tearing off of the veil of the temple in the middle. This special phenomenon was also recorded in Matthew and Mark, but it was recorded right after Jesus lost his breath. We will discuss its symbolic meaning later.

[the moment of Jesus’ death]

Now, it finally came to the moment of Jesus’ death. “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eloi (以羅伊), Eloi, lama sabachthani (拉馬撒巴各大尼)?’ which is, being interpreted, ‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ And some of them, that stood by, when they heard it, said, ‘Behold, he called Elijah.’ And one ran and filled a sponge (海絨) full of vinegar, and put it on a reed (綁在葦子上), and gave him to drink, saying, ‘Let alone (且等著); let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down (‘to save him’, Matt 27:48).’ And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.” (v34-37) Matthew had almost the same record as Mark. Luke simply recorded, “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, ‘Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit’; and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” (Luke 23:46) John thus recorded, “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, ‘I thirst.’ Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar; and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop (綁在牛膝草上), and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” (John 19:28-30)

Combining the above records of four Gospels, we can reorganize the steps somewhat like this before Jesus lost his final breath:

  • At the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ (v34)

  • Someone standing near him heard his voice and said, ‘Behold, he called Elijah.’ (v35)

  • Then Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished and that the scripture might be fulfilled, said, ‘I thirst.’ (John 19:28)

  • Now, there was a vessel full of vinegar ready for use. Someone ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar and bind it with a reed or hyssop. He then held up the reed and inserted the sponge into Jesus’ mouth for him to drink the vinegar. Meanwhile, the fellow said, ‘Let alone; let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.’ (v36; John 19:29)

  • After Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, ‘It is finished.’ (John 19:30)

  • Then he cried with a loud voice, ‘Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.’ (Luke 23:46)

  • At last, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)

Some points need to be elaborated in the above passage:

  1. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (v34) This verse comes from Psalm 22:1, the first verse that leads to the painful feelings and physical sufferings described throughout the rest of the psalm. While the other sufferings like scourge and mocking relate to body and mental injury, being deserted by the Father as a ‘sinful’ Son has completely broken off the spiritual relationship between the Father and the Son, which was the most painful spiritual suffering to Jesus. As Jesus was bearing the sin of the whole world and God was exercising His righteousness on His begotten Son, the Father was surely feeling the same degree of pain as His Son!

  2. "Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst." (John 19:28) This verse "I thirst" is the last prophesy for Jesus at his last breath, which is found in Psalm 69:21, "They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink."

  3. “Let alone; let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” (v36) In the section of Mark 8:27-30 regarding Jesus’ identity, we have discussed why the Jews still hoped for Elijah’s coming. In that passage, Jesus asked his disciples, “ ‘Whom do men say that I am?’ And they answered, ‘John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, One of the prophets.’ ” When Jesus transfigured himself on a high mountain, his three close disciples saw him together with Elijah and Moses. On their way down the mountain, the disciples asked him, “ ‘Why say the scribes that Elijah must first come?’ Jesus answered, ‘Elijah verily cometh first, and restoreth all things.’ ” (Mark 9:11-12) Here, Jesus referred Elijah to mean John the Baptist. 

In the last book of the O.T., the Book of Malachi, its last two verses virtually prophesied the coming of Elijah and used it as the ending of O.T.: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” (Mal 4:5-6) II Kings 2:11 described how Elijah left the world dramatically: “behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both (Elijah and Elisha) asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” The prophet Elijah did perform many spectacular miracles in his life, such as by prayer, causing the rain to stop falling for three and a half years in the entire land of Israel (James 5:17); by prayer, causing fire to come down on Mount Carmel; by prayer, causing rain to fall again. Hence, the Jews in Jesus’ days still honoured Elijah as the only great prophet alive and anticipated him to return some day. Now that Jesus was nailed on the cross, the fellows, by mistaking ‘Eloi’ for ‘Elijah’, naturally thought that Elijah might have the power to come and save him. Elijah was certainly a great prophet in their hearts, other than the true Messiah.

[the veil of the temple]

“And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.” (v37-38) Luke 23:45 recorded that “And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.” Whether the veil of the temple was torn off during the dark period before or after Jesus gave up his spirit is not an important issue. The key thing is that it did happen.

Why would the veil that separated the sanctuary and the most holy place in the temple suddenly split into two halves? What is the symbolic meaning for that? Hebrews 10:19-22 gave us some hint for the answer: “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest (the most holy place) by the blood of Jesus (我們既因耶穌的血得以坦然進入至聖所), by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh (這幔子就是他的身體); and having a high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith (就當存著誠心和充足的信心來到神面前)…” The author of Hebrews referred the veil of the temple to the body of Jesus. His word meant that the veil that kept the pilgrims from accessing the most holy place was torn off now. People could freely access the “mercy seat (施恩座)” (Heb 9:5) inside the most holy place. Who helped accomplish this work? Jesus Christ the heavenly high priest, of course. The moment Jesus died on the cross by shedding his blood, this high priest offered himself as the living sacrifice in the Most Holy Place to wash away our sins once and for all so that we were allowed to draw near to God directly without any hindrance. Heb 9:11-12 said, “But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come…neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Heb 9:24 also said, “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true (這不過是真聖所的影像); but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” In other words, all the settings and sacrificial rituals of the earthly temple worship carry the symbolic meaning of the heavenly temple worship. Since the veil stood for Jesus’ body, it is reasonable to believe that the veil was torn off at the moment of Jesus’ death, signifying not only his death but that the old way of having the high priest to offer annual sacrifices in the most holy place on behalf of his people was discarded. “A new and living way” was established instead to permit us to enter the most holy place and worship God through the heavenly high priest.

[the belief of a Roman centurion]

Then Mark recorded the belief of a centurion: “And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God.’ ” (v39) Matt 27:51-54 recorded some other strange events that had happened before the centurion believed in Jesus: “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent (崩裂); and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, ‘Truly this was the Son of God.’ ” Luke 23:47 also mentioned this centurion: “Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, ‘Certainly this was a righteous man.’ ” He was particularly named in three Gospels because the authors wanted to stress that even a Roman centurion, a Gentile with a high official rank, believed in ‘the king of the Jews’ and “glorified God” after witnessing all the strange things happening around Jesus. Ironically, his own people still refused to believe their true Messiah after witnessing all those strange events with their naked eyes.

[3 women]

Mark also listed some women who were eye-witnesses of Jesus’ death: “There were also women looking on afar off, among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses (小雅各和約西的母親馬利亞), and Salome (撒羅米) (who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him), and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.” (v40-41) Matt 27:56 listed “Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children”.

Mary Magdalene was once healed by Jesus (Mark 16:9, “Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils”). Mary, the mother of James the less and Joses, was actually Mary the mother of Jesus. Mark 6:3 gives us the names of Jesus’ four brothers: “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon?” ‘James the less’ is the author of the Book of James, distinguished from James the brother of John. Whether Salome was the mother of Zebedee’s children (James and John) was unknown. These three women were particularly named among the crowd of women at Jesus’ death in Mark 15:41 because they were also mentioned later in Mark 16:1 bringing sweet spices to Jesus’ tomb on Sunday morning.

[sadness over Jesus’ death]

Luke 23:48-49 ended the incident of Jesus’ death: “And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.” 

(Reflection)

When Jesus was still in the garden of Gethsemane, he plainly expressed his hard feeling to his three close disciples, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death.” (Mark 14:34) As he knelt down and prayed, he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me; nevertheless not what I will, but what thou will.” (Mark 14:36) Luke 22:44 described how painful Jesus was as he prayed: “And being in an agony (耶穌極其傷痛) he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Somehow he was well aware of the excruciating pain and affliction he was about to face and suffer.

From Jesus’ arrest in the garden of Gethsemane to his crucifixion on Mount Calvary, he had gone through a great deal of suffering. The path of the cross was by no means easy for him. He finally finished this path in the end, bringing grief to all those who loved him. Let’s summarize the kinds of suffering he had been through.

  1. Physical suffering--spitting on the face, smitten by hands and hit by fists (Matt 26:67), scourged, wearing a crown of thorns on the head, smitten on the head, bearing the heavy cross, nailed and suspended on the cross.

  2. Mental suffering--betrayed by his close disciple, interrogated by the high priests, Herod and Pilate, accused falsely by the chief priests, denied and forsaken by his close disciples, mocked and reviled by the Jews and the soldiers, hated and forsaken by his own people, grieved his mother and other sisters who followed him, misunderstood by his brothers.

  3. Spiritual suffering—forsaken by his heavenly Father and overcome by Satan.

Let us examine the kinds of conflict and struggle that were hidden deep in Jesus’ mind and heart while he was being suspended on the cross:

  1. He healed the public with love and mercy and preached to them the gospel of salvation. But only a few believed and honoured him as the Lord. The majority of his own people rejected him and even condemned him due to the misleading of his enemies.

  2. He spent three and a half years living together with his disciples and teaching them with patience and by example the truth of loving God and the people. However, one of his disciples betrayed him to his enemies. The rest of them deserted him when he was arrested. Even his closest disciple denied having any mentor relationship with his Lord.

  3. He spoke honestly and walked righteously all his life. Yet he was arrested and accused by his enemies with all kinds of lies and false testimonies.

  4. He was judged unfairly by the Roman judge, who for fearing of the multitude of Jews suppressed his own conscience and made an unjustifiable verdict of crucifying Jesus.

  5. He was innocent and should have been released. Instead, he was condemned by the ignorant people and the murderer was released instead of him.

  6. He had the authority and power to overcome his enemies but refrained from so doing, owing to his full obedience to the will of the Father.

  7. The true king of the Jews was mocked and reviled by the Roman soldiers.

  8. He was misunderstood by his brothers.

  9. He had no chance of taking care of his parents who nurtured him for 30 years.

  10. His beloved Father not only stayed afar without giving him a helping hand but eventually forsook him.

Simply imagine that in a balance, on the left of the balance is placed all your sins. The left side drops low because of your heavy sins. On the right of the balance is empty, standing for Jesus’ innocence. Then you start to move your sins from the left side to the right side, until the left side is empty. What happens? The right side keeps on falling because Jesus is bearing all your sins! Now, you become innocent and are free from any burden of sin. How would you feel? Have you noticed how much Jesus has suffered for you to set you free? Just like the criminal who was being crucified next to Jesus, all his sins were immediately forgiven at the moment Jesus bore all his sins.

Still remember what the criminal said, “we indeed justly (我們是應該的), for we receive the due reward of our deeds” (Luke 23:41)? We are lucky to be exempt from being crucified since we have believed in Jesus! While the criminal had no more chance to serve his Lord on the earth, we are still alive and have the chance to serve the Lord in the rest of our lives. Are you willing to wisely spend the rest of your life by entrusting yourself to the Lord of your life? I Peter 2:21 says, “For even hereunto were ye called (你們蒙召原是為此); because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” How do you respond now to Jesus’ love? Are you willing to suffer for him? Are you willing to take the cup and say, “not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42)? Jesus said, “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mark 8:34) Are you willing to bear your own cross and follow the Lord up Mount Calvary?

 
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