THE KING ON THE CROSS

Passage: Matthew 27:27-44

Key verse: 37

NIV

The Soldiers Mock Jesus(A)

27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium(B) and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,(C) 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.(D) 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.(E) 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.(F)

The Crucifixion of Jesus(G)

32 As they were going out,(H) they met a man from Cyrene,(I) named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.(J) 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”).(K) 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall;(L) but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.(M) 36 And sitting down, they kept watch(N) over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.

38 Two rebels were crucified with him,(O) one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads(P) 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,(Q) save yourself!(R) Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”(S) 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel!(T) Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe(U) in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him(V) now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Is Mocked

27 (A)Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the (B)governor's headquarters,[a] and they gathered the whole (C)battalion[b] before him. 28 And they stripped him and put (D)a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they (E)mocked him, saying, “Hail, (F)King of the Jews!” 30 And (G)they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and (H)led him away to crucify him.

The Crucifixion

32 (I)(J)As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to (K)carry his cross. 33 (L)And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34 (M)they offered him wine to drink, mixed with (N)gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, (O)they divided his garments among them by casting lots. 36 Then they sat down and (P)kept watch over him there. 37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, (Q)the King of the Jews.” 38 Then two (R)robbers were crucified with him, (S)one on the right and one on the left. 39 And (T)those who passed by (U)derided him, (V)wagging their heads 40 and saying, (W)“You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! (X)If you are (Y)the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 (Z)“He saved others; (AA)he cannot save himself. (AB)He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 (AC)He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 (AD)And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 27:27 Greek the praetorium
  2. Matthew 27:27 Greek cohort; a tenth of a Roman legion, usually about 600 men
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

After the trial and flogging, Jesus was led away by the Roman soldiers who again mocked and tortured him before leading him to Golgotha for crucifixion (31).

The charge placed above his head said, ‘The King of the Jews’ (37). Though intended as a mockery, it proclaimed the truth. As the king of the Jews and almighty God, he demonstrated his kingship through humility, sacrificing his life to save sinners from their eternal bondage.

Crucified between two robbers, he endured insults from passersby, Roman soldiers, and the religious leaders. They challenged him to save himself and come down from the cross (40). They did not understand that if Jesus saved himself, they would be condemned. The One who possessed all power willingly endured shame and suffering in obedience to the Father's will, while loving the sinners who hurled insults at him, not knowing what they were doing (Luke 23:34).

Prayer: Father, I am saved because of Jesus’ sacrifice. I am strong because he became weak for me. Please help me to be humble as Jesus became humble to save me.

One Word: The Almighty King chose the cross