Today, I thought I’d offer an excerpt from a new book described as “A Bible Story Book for Grown-Ups”. Dr. William H. Marty, professor of Bible at Moody Bible Institute, has published surveys of the Old and New Testament. In his new book, The Whole Bible Story: Explaining Everything That Happens in the Bible in Plain English (published by Bethany House Publishers), he summarizes the Bible story in simple language, seeking to encourage more people to learn the Bible and go from his book to a personal reading of the Bible.
Today’s excerpt is the story of Jesus’ crucifixion. It is drawn from the account in all four Gospels. As you read and meditate on the events of that day, let the Holy Spirit inspire true heart-felt worship and wonder at the significance of Jesus’ death for you.
The Crucifixion: The First Three Hours
Before crucifying Jesus, the soldiers tortured him. They put a staff in his right hand and, mockingly bowing down to him, they said, “Hail, king of the Jews!” They spit on him and beat him again and again with the staff.
Then they took away the robe and put Jesus’ clothes on him. Jesus initially was forced to carry his own cross, but eventually the soldiers saw a man named Simon from Cyrene and forced him to carry it. On the way to the place of execution, a large group of people followed Jesus, including women who grieved.
Jesus called out to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and your children. Blessed are those women who have never given birth to children or nursed infants. People soon will beg for death because of the terrible suffering they will be forced to endure.”
Jesus and two other criminals were taken to the Place of the Skull (“Golgotha,” in Aramaic). At around nine in the morning, the soldiers crucified him between two thieves. After nailing him to the cross, the soldiers divided his clothes into four parts. Instead of tearing his outer robe, they gambled for it by throwing dice.
Pilate ordered a sign placed on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” The inscription was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek.
When the chief priests read it, they objected, saying “Do not write ‘King of the Jews.’ Write that he claimed he was king of the Jews.”
Their protest fell on deaf ears. Pilate said, “What I have written, I have written!”
Some of the people walking by mocked Jesus, saying, “You, who claimed you were going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself. Come down from the cross if you are the Son of God.”
The leaders joined the people in mocking Jesus. They said, “He saved others, but he can’t save himself. We will believe that he is the Christ and the Son of God if he can come down from the cross.”
One of the crucified thieves shouted, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and save us!”
Th other thief, though, scolded him: “Don’t you fear God? We deserve to die; we are guilty, but not this man. He isn’t a criminal.” He said to Jesus, “Don’t forget me when you enter into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered, “You can be certain that today you will be with me in paradise.”
Several women were standing near the cross. When Jesus saw his mother and John, the disciple he loved, standing next to her, he said, “My dear woman, this man is now your son”; to the beloved disciple, Jesus said, “This dear woman is now your mother.”
From that time on, John took care of Mary as if she were his own mother.
The Crucifixion: The Last Three Hours
From noon to three, the entire area was shrouded in darkness. Then Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Some didn’t understand and thought he was calling for Elijah.
Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”
One of the onlookers tried to give him a drink with a sponge on a pole.
Then Jesus prayed, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,” and he cried out, “It is finished!”
With those words, Jesus bowed his head and died.
That instant, the curtain in the temple ripped from top to bottom. The earth shook, breaking open tombs, and people were raised to life. After Jesus’ resurrection, many of them appeared in Jerusalem.
When the commander of the soldiers who had crucified Jesus saw him die, he said, “He surely was the Son of God, and an innocent man.”
Three of the women who had watched the crucifixion were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of James and John. [excerpted from pages 249-251]
