The Crucifixion of Jesus | Matthew 27:32-55

The Crucifixion of Jesus

32 As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross. 33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34 they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; 36 then they sat down there and kept watch over him. 37 Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

38 Then two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to, for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’ ” 44 The rebels who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.

The Death of Jesus

45 From noon on, darkness came over the whole land[d] until three in the afternoon. 46 And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48 At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50 Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53 After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54 Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

55 Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him.

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We all know Jesus on the cross. He is distinct from Jesus at the last supper, or feeding the five-thousand, or swaddled in a manger. Jesus on the cross may be the most iconic version of Jesus. Many church sanctuaries have one front and center. As a very young child, compelled to draw a picture to give to my pastor, I opted to draw Jesus on the cross, as Jesus on the cross could not be mixed up with any other man despite his stick-figure limbs and dots for eyes. Knowing my pastor was such a big fan of the guy I figured he’d appreciate the gift, thinking nothing of the morbidity of the subject matter. But, considering how young some of us are when we learn about crucifixion, it is no wonder we tend not to dwell on the horror of it. But, it being Good Friday, I think there is no better time to do so. 

Jesus endured the violence of mankind as mankind’s mirror. That is, as a human who could feel pain and sorrow, same as any one of us. The nails, harshly driven into his wrists, held him aloft upon The Cross for hours, slowly asphyxiating him. He would have been delirious with pain. He would have wailed. The crowd threw taunts at him, declaring him the son of God whom God had abandoned. Jesus died gradually, little by little, giving up the function of his organs one by one, his breath, his heartbeat, ending with his spirit. Crucifixion was the ultimate humiliation. It was a message from the Roman Empire to instill fear in those whom they oppressed. The men on either side of Christ (who are called bandits in some translations but notably are called ‘rebels’ in others) were crucified as rebels of Roman occupation. The thumb of the occupier digging them into the depths of silence.

Darkness fell and the creaks of wood and the agonized heaves of breath were all that could be observed. 

I invite you to meditate on the potent contradiction of Christ crucified. Jesus performed countless miracles. He raised the dead. His teachings were thought-provoking and radical and appalling to those who heard. He loved humanity so much that he overturned tables in the temple and he still overturns our lives today. And that same Jesus was arrested, beaten, stripped and murdered. Saved by no one, savior to all.

Lyla McAdams

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Chicago.

Camper, 8th year