As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it. When they had crucified Him, they divided up His clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. Above His head they placed the written charge against him: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.
Two rebels were crucified with Him, one on His right and one on His left. Those who passed by hurled insults at Him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked Him. “He save others,” they said, “but He can’t save Himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue Him now if He wants Him, for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” In the same way the rebels who were crucified with Him also heaped insults on Him.
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I can’t imagine how difficult the temptation must’ve been for Jesus to just come down off that cross and prove to everyone mocking Him of who He is. But He didn’t. Why? Because it wasn’t about Him…it was about you and me. How often in our lives do we make it about us. How much better would life be if we could learn to put Him first? Jesus paid the ultimate price for you and me…the least we can do is follow His lead in our own life…the life He saved. Put God First today and every day.
A Journey With Jesus 