While the religious leaders and political powers had responsibility for the crucifixion of Christ, the "ordinary" people were just a guilty. We have just seen the crowds choosing to free Barabbas over Christ, and now we see the Roman soldiers mocking Jesus. We too are very ready to blame and criticise our church and political leaders, and bosses at work, and no doubt they have much to answer for, but so do we.
Their mockery of Christ was not just words, though it included that, but also involved beating and the crown of thorns.
Then the crucifixion itself took place. Jesus had been so weakened by the preceding events that He was unable to carry His own cross. It is hard for us to imagine how severe the previous floggings and beatings had been. Simon of Cyrene was made to carry the cross, this was a beam of wood weighing some 30 or 40 pounds.
The humiliation continued with Christ's clothes being divided up among the soldiers by lot. The written charge put against Jesus was "King of the Jews". There were tow rebels either side of Him. The people passing by shook their heads in contempt.
When Christ was saving us there was not one man or woman who was helping Him. Instead we only despised and mocked Him.
The religious leaders also mocked Him, thinking they had finally solved a problem that had been bugging them for two or three years.
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