As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and out the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed Him, including women who mourned and wailed for Him. Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with Him to be executed. When they came to a place called the Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals-one on His right, the other on His left. Jesus said, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His clothes by casting lots.
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at Him. They said, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
The soldiers also came up and mocked Him. They offered Him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
There was a written notice above Him, which read: This is the King of the Jews.
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
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Luke’s Gospel really focuses on the reactions of others. The rulers mocked…the soldiers mocked…the criminal mocked…Jesus was receiving it from every side. On top of the physical pain and torment, He was being mocked by mankind who He loved so much He was dying for them. Jesus went through all of that…for you. He went through all of that…for them. He went through all of that…for me. We serve an awesome God. Today…rest in His love. Be picked up by His strength, and be renewed by His grace.
A Journey With Jesus 