27:32-37
The victim had to carry the cross beam themselves, this is the source of Jesus’ phrase about carrying our cross. Jesus had been so beaten up that Simon of Cyrene had to carry the cross for Him. Jesus finally arrived at Golgotha. He was offered some wine vinegar to drink, but refused to do so. He was nailed up to the cross, and the soldiers then cast lots for His clothes. Note that Jesus would almost certainly have been naked on the cross. The whole crucifixion system was designed to utterly humiliate the one being crucified. The soldiers sat down and watched Jesus die. A sign had been placed above Him saying, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews”.
27:38
Crucifixion itself was not unusual, on that day there were two rebels who were crucified with Jesus. Easter tends to make much of the extreme suffering involved in crucifixion, and we certainly must not be unaware of that aspect, and it is important. However, there was nothing particularly unique about the physical suffering. So what was unique? What made it different? What made it different was who Jesus is. He is the Son of God, God incarnate. He did live a life of perfect, love, trust and obedience to the Father. He did take our sins upon Himself, He was made sin, and so He suffered the wrath of God, the righteous punishment, in our place. He paid the price for our sins.
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