seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Matthew 27:32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.
38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
Jesus brought Lazarus back from the dead. Matthew doesn't report on it. It's in John's Gospel. According to Martha, John 11:39. the sister of Lazarus, her brother had been in the tomb for four days. He was stinky. Jesus told Lazarus to get up and come out... and sure enough, Lazarus came out of the tomb.
Jesus said the Temple would be torn down and rebuilt in three days. Jesus didn't have plans to get stinky. He was going to walk out before the stinkier fourth day.
They were mocking Jesus.
Remember the Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz where he dances around and says "put 'em up.... put em' up"? That's what comes to mind when I think of the Pharisees, Sadducees, Elders and Teachers mentioned here. They would have pooped their britches if God had let out just one peel of thunder while they were mocking Jesus. If Jesus decided to jump off the Cross, they would have run like cheetahs.
Did they beat Jesus so bad; He couldn't carry His own Cross? Or did they conscript Simon the Cyrene to carry the cross to mock the "king of the Jews"?
Just yesterday evening Jesus was having a Passover dinner with His Disciples; now He's headed for the cross, convicted of being "king of the Jews".
Jesus was on a Mission. Jesus was patient.
