Is Crucified

Matthew 27:31-56

After the soldiers finished mocking the Savior, they took the robe off of him and put his own raiment on, and he was lead away to the be crucified. Simon, the Cyrenian, was compelled to carry His cross to Golgotha, the place of the skull. The Savior by this time was extremely weak from the three hours of agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, where he atoned for the sins of all men, from the illegal trial that had lasted all night, from the appearances before Pilate, Herod, and Pilate, and from his scourging. That He could walk was a miracle. As He came to Golgatha, another very difficult test awaited Him. Here He must suffer again in ways that we cannot image nor understand. He continued on, despite the difficult path. What a beautiful model for us to follow.

Vinegar and gall were was a drink given to those being crucified to dead the pain. The Savior refused this. His garments were parted and lots were cast so that prophecy was fulfilled. The accusation was ironic in that He was literally the Son of God and the King of the Jews, the Messiah, the One that all were waiting for. They just did not see it. Two thieves were crucified with him, one of each side. He was in the middle, as the most important. In verses 39-44, the chief priests, passersby, and the two thieves reviled him. Little did they know that He must willing die to perform His atoning sacrifice. From 12 noon until 3 p.m., darkness covered the land. In the middle of the day there was darkness. That is so symbolic.

About 3 p.m. Jesus cried, “My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?” Here as the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ was coming to a close, He had to walk alone, without any support or help from the Father. Those who heard Him thought that He was calling for Elias. Their focus left Him, and they speculated that Elias may come and rescue Him. Again, they did not understand what was happening. Finally, he cried again with a loud voice and yielded up the ghost. He had the power to live and die, but now the atoning sacrifice was finished, he had no more reason to live. “It is finished.” At the time of his death the veil of the temple was rent in twain, or two pieces from top to bottom. The Law of Moses was now fulfilled.


There were earthquakes and the rocks were rent. After the rocks had been rent and the graves opened, a special occurrence happened on Sunday morning after the Savior’s resurrection. The graves were opened and the bodies of the saints that were righteous were resurrected and they went into the holy city and appeared unto many. What an amazing experience—to see the resurrected personages of your ancestors and those who you knew before they died. What a powerful witness.

The soldiers and those with him were stunned as they saw the Savior die, felt the powerful earthquake, and they feared. They then witnessed that He was truly the Son of God. Also, there were many women, who watched from a far off, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Peter and Andrew. I am sure that they did not fully understand what was happening, but they were there, praying for and supporting Jesus.


Mark 15:20-41

From the account in Mark we learn: that Simon, who carried the cross, was the father of Alexander and Rufus (Simon, Alexander, and Rufus must have been known to the early saints in Jerusalem); that Golgotha means “the place of a skull;” that being crucified between two thieves fulfilled prophecy; and that Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome followed him in Galilee, had ministered unto him with many other women that came up with him to Jerusalem. Given the similarity of the Matthew and Mark accounts, it is highly probable that the one account was derived from the other account.


Luke 23:26-49
In Luke’s account, we learn that Simon, the Cyrenian, who carried the Savior’s cross was coming out of the country; and that there followed Him a great company of men and women, and that they bewailed and lamented that He was being crucified. We also learn of the Savior’s comment to this company that the people should not weep for Him, because He was performing the infinite atonement, something that He willingly wanted to do; but that they should weep for themselves and their children. He then prophesied that time would come when those who were barren would be considered blessed, and that the people would desire that mountains would fall on them and kill them. Verse 31 is interesting. The JST adds the following sentence at the end of the verse. “This he spake, signifying the scattering of Israel, and the desolation of the heathen, or in other words, the Gentiles.” The mocking and deriding continued, but we learn that the Savior’s accusation was written in Greek, Latin and Hebrew. We learn of the conversation between the two thieves. The first asks the Savior to save them both, but the second chides him saying that they deserved their punishment, but for some unknown reason he senses that the Savior has done nothing amiss. Then the second thief asks the Savior to remember him when thou comest into thy kingdom. The Savior responds that today thou shalt be with me in paradise. Another term for paradise is the Spirit World. Another thing that we learn from the account of Luke is that the many saw the Savior being crucified, smote their breasts and returned. Many who followed him from Galilee watched His crucifixion.

John 19:16-30

In John’s account of the crucifixion, we learn some additional facts. Pilate personally wrote the title that was posted on the cross: Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews. Obviouslyl the chief priest would take issue with this and they did. Pilate had bent to the chief priests to crucify Jesus, but he would not change what he had written. The fulfilling of prophecy in regards to his coat or raiment is also chronicled in John’s version. This cast lots instead of tearing it into pieces. We also learn that Mary, his mother, his mother’s sister, another Mary, the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene were all by the cross. I cannot image the pains that they had in their hearts, but the Savior knew that he had to perform the infinite atonement and the fulfillment of Heavenly Father’s plan hung in the balance. The Savior also made arrangements that His mother would be cared for by asking John, the Beloved, to care for His mother. The Savior was always thinking of others. John immediately took her into his home. The Savior receives some vinegar and said, after knowing that all was fulfilled, simply, “It is finished.” He then quietly died. The great atonement was complete, so the time had come for him voluntarily to die, which He did.