The Rock, The Road, And The RabbiShembull

Following the Path to Redemption (Jerusalem)

I have read the biblical account of Jesus’ arrest, “trial,” scourging, and crucifixion hundreds of times. Interestingly, the biblical narrative of Jesus’ last day on earth parallels what was known as the Roman Triumph. This ceremony began with Roman soldiers assembled at the Praetorium, where the guards were stationed. They would place a purple robe (the color of royalty) on the emperor and a wreath on his head. Then they would shout, “Hail Caesar!” 

The emperor and the guards would wind their way along the Via Sacra in Rome to arrive at the Capitoline, or “head hill.” Once there, a bull would be sacrificed by someone who had been carrying an instrument of death. The emperor would be offered a bowl of wine, which he would refuse or sometimes pour on the head of the sacrificial bull. Finally, he would ascend the steps of the Capitoline. The population would declare him as their “savior”—their divine Caesar—and look for signs in the heavens to confirm their leader’s coronation.

After Jesus had been sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate, the Roman guards took Him to the Praetorium in Jerusalem. There they stripped Him, threw a purple robe over Him, and placed a crown of thorns on His head. They mockingly worshiped Him, shouting, “Hail, the King of the Jews” and bowed down to Him, striking Him and spitting on Him. Once they tired of this sport, they led Him away along the Via Dolorosa to be crucified. Jesus carried His own cross (instrument of death) until He collapsed beneath it. 

A passerby was forced to carry Jesus’ cross for Him to Golgotha (“the Place of the Skull”). There, the soldiers laid Jesus on the cross and crucified Him along with two revolutionaries. They offered Him sour wine, which He refused. Pontius Pilate had insisted that a sign reading “THE KING OF JEWS” be nailed to Jesus’ cross. As He suffered, the crowd around Him taunted Him, “Hail, the King of the Jews.” They hurled blasphemies and insults on Him. Once Jesus gave up His spirit, there was an earthquake and the curtain at the entrance to the Holy of Holies in the temple was split in two from the top to the bottom. Signs, indeed.

Rabbi Jason notes the significance of many of the items we find at the crucifixion. First, there is the cross. Just as sin entered the world by means of a tree, so God put His Son on a tree, in the form of a cross, to redeem us from sin. God put Jesus, the second Adam, on the tree to make restitution for what had been stolen from the tree in the Garden. The first Adam brought death by means of a tree, but the second Adam brought life by means of His death on one!

And there is more. The crown the Romans placed on Jesus’ head also points back to the Garden of Eden. The sign of God’s curse was that the ground would “produce thorns and thistles” (Genesis 3:18). By wearing a crown of thorns at His crucifixion, Jesus took upon Himself the curse of creation—to undo it for the purpose of restoring the blessing! 

Jesus’ body was pierced so that He might overcome sin, Satan, and death for our sake. He loved us so much that He was willing to identify with our pain and suffering. He tasted death so that we might experience life!

Respond

How would you describe your understanding of what Jesus did on the cross? Where do you stand on accepting or rejecting what Jesus has done for you? 

How does knowing all of Scripture points toward God’s plan to redeem you through the death and resurrection of Jesus impact how you value His Word? 

What does it mean to you to know you are safe in the hands of Jesus when you accept Him as your savior? Why do you think some people struggle with this assurance?