A Walk of Faith

On the way to Golgatha Jesus was continuing to lose more and more blood. In a documentary I watched, a medical doctor conducted a forensic analysis of the physical condition of Jesus during the passion. It was frightening, only the strength of God could have made that walk in that condition. On the way, Jesus struggled and fell. The Romans called to a man Simon of Cyrene to assist Jesus. He did and Simon carried his cross to the hill. I was once asked if I could be anyone in the Bible who would it be? I answered Simon of Cyrene. There would be no greater honor than to carry the cross of Christ for Him.

Despised, a Curse

Jesus was humiliated, spit on, and many other horrid things. Jesus was stripped and nailed to the cross. Upon His crucifixion, there was an earthquake, and the temple was damaged. The curtain hiding the holy of holies in the temple was torn from top to bottom. God tore it this way so that no man could say another did the tearing from the bottom up. In another documentary I have viewed, geologists studied the layers of earth in the Jerusalem area. In doing so they identified the layers present in the time of Jesus. In the study, they identified disruptions in the soil consistent with that of an earthquake. Science is amazing, the discovery validated the earthquake in scripture.

The Forgiven

While on the cross two thieves were crucified next to Jesus. One mocked Jesus the other, well his story is simply amazing. The only time Jesus promised anyone they would be in heaven was on the cross. One of the two thieves submitted himself to Christ on the cross. His name is not mentioned in the New Testament but in pseudepigraphical writings, namely the apocryphal, non-canonical writing “The Gospel of Nicodemus”, the thief is known as Dismas. Dismas told Jesus that condemning him would be just, but asked only that Jesus remember Him when He entered his kingdom. In the New Testament account Jesus told the thief, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43 ESV). Even in Christ’s suffering for us, He was still saving others. Jesus, in his omniscience, knew the exact moment the plan of redemption was completed crushing Satan. Jesus uttered the words, Tetelestai (τετέλεσται) which is Greek for accomplished or it is finished. He then gave up His soul to the Father and died a physical death.

"He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them" John 12:40 ESV

The blindness and deafness of the people who experienced Jesus’ ministry are staggering. Many were saved but many would perish. Much like today, souls are still saved, but the blindness and deafness of our society are tragic. The physical body of Jesus was removed from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea and the Pharisee Nicodemus who was secretly a believer in Christ. Joseph of Arimathea buried Jesus in an unused family tomb. A tomb existing and identified by historians and archeologists in Jerusalem.

The finished work of salvation was yet to come.