Betrayal, abduction, physical abuse, and a torturous, agonizing death. Read that in the morning paper, and you know what label you’d give it: cold-blooded murder. Interesting how we don’t see the crucifixion in those terms. Yet the death of Christ couldn’t fit the definition of murder any better. In The Murder of Jesus, John MacArthur examines Christ’s ordeal for the sake of sinners, and explores what amounts to the great turning point in all of history.
27:27 .. then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around him 27:28 .. they stripped him .. and put a scarlet robe on him 27:29 .. and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head .. they put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him .......... hail .. king of the Jews .. they said 27:30 .. they spat on him .. and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again 27:31 .. after they had mocked him .. they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him .. then they led him away to crucify him
.................. the crucifixion
27:32 .. as they were going out .. they met a man from Cyrene .. named Simon .. and they forced him to carry the cross 27:33 .. they came to a place called Golgotha .. which means .. the place of the skull 27:34 .. there they offered Jesus wine to drink .. mixed with gall .. but after tasting it .. he refused to drink it 27:35 .. when they had crucified him .. they divided up his clothes by casting lots 27:36 .. and sitting down .. they kept watch over him there 27:37 .. above his head they placed the written charge against him . . . this is Jesus .. the king of the Jews
27:38 .. at that time two robbers were crucified with him .. one on the right and one on the left 27:39 .. and those passing by were hurling abuse at him .. wagging their heads 27:40 .. and saying . . . you who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days .. save yourself .. .......... If you are the son of God .. come down from the cross 27:41 .. In the same way the chief priests also .. along with the scribes and elders .. were mocking him and saying 27:42 .. he saved others .. he cannot save himself .. he is the king of Israel .. let him now come down from the cross .. and we will believe in him 27:43 .. he trusts in God .. let God rescue him now .. if he delights in him .. for he said .. I am the son of God 27:44 .. the robbers who had been crucified with him were also insulting him with the same words