(Mark 15:24-39 NLT) Then the soldiers nailed Him to the cross. They divided His clothes and threw dice to decide who would get each piece. It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified Him. A sign was fastened to the cross, announcing the charge against Him. It read, "The King of the Jews." Two revolutionaries were crucified with Him, one on His right and one on His left. [ And the Scripture was fulfilled that said, "He was counted among those who were rebels."] The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. "Ha! Look at You now!" they yelled at Him. "You said You were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, save Yourself and come down from the cross!" The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. "He saved others," they scoffed, "but He can't save Himself! Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe Him!" Even the men who were crucified with Jesus ridiculed Him. At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. Then at three o'clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means "My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me?" Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought He was calling for the prophet Elijah. One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to Him on a reed stick so He could drink. "Wait!" he said. "Let's see whether Elijah comes to take Him down!" Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed His last. And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. When the Roman officer who stood facing Him [heard His cry and] saw how He had died, he exclaimed, "This man truly was the Son of God!"
The crucifixion and the prior beating and whipping, not to mention the humiliation and false accusations were beyond comprehension; though the Romans were severe in their typical punishment Satan himself prodded the Romans and the crowd of Jews like never before. I believe anyone else would have died from the physical abuse before ever reaching the cross but Father God made provisions that brought Jesus to the cross because of the work of salvation and Old Testament prophesies would not have been complete without it. The enemy could almost taste victory as the Son of God was being tormented, blinded by his hate he forgot that which Jesus promised earlier, (John 2:19-21 MKJV) “Jesus answered and said to them, Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up. Then the Jews said, This temple was forty-six years building, and will you rear it up in three days? But He spoke of the temple of His body.”
Jesus not only died for us but He came to show us how to live – loving those who hate him, healing the broken, and giving hope to those who were marginalized by society but that was only the beginning! Though that alone would make him note worthy it was the fact that He conquered death and the grave by keeping His promise, for on the third day He arose victoriously! Easter is the celebration and the centerpiece of the work that Jesus came to do for all of mankind, old things have passed away and new life rising up in its place! Those who humble themselves and place their trust in Him are made new creatures in Christ and though we are all created in the image of God now those who believe have become His own, welcomed into a new family, a royal priesthood, and destined to reign with Christ as overcomers! For the church is the Bride of Christ and one day we will see Him face to face and on that glorious wedding day we will leave this world behind and go to that which He has prepared for us and we will be with him for all eternity!
