Mark 15:22-28

At last, Jesus and the two robbers arrived at the scene of the crucifixion. The exact site of the place Golgotha1 is not known. In recent years, just outside the city of Jerusalem and to the north of it, a hill has been discovered with large caverns in the face of it so that, at a distance, it look very much like a skull. This could very well be the place where Jesus was crucified. Here, the soldiers prepared Jesus, and the others for their crucifixion.

The crucifixion was the most degrading method of death known to the Romans and one of the cruelest ever invented by man. The cross was commonly made by crossing two pieces of timber, the upright bar being, perhaps, eight or nine feet long. The hands and feet were fastened to the upright and to the bar by ropes or nails, in Jesus' case, the latter.

A society of wealthy women in Jerusalem had taken it upon themselves, as a humane service, to provide a stupefying drink for all who were crucified. This was given to the victims to lessen the pain, before the nails were driven through their hands and their feet. In the agony of his suffering, Jesus allowed the cup to be placed to his lips, but, when he had tasted it2 he refused to drink it.

Meanwhile, the four soldiers who were in charge of the proceedings began to claim the garments that Jesus had been wearing, casting lots to see what each would get3.

Mark carefully notes that it was about nine o'clock in the morning (the third hour after sunrise) that Jesus was raised upon the cross4, and mentions that official accusation that was nailed to the cross, above his head: The King of the Jews5. It was written in three languages ~ Hebrew, Greek and Latin6. It was on this charge that Jesus had been sentenced to death.

On either side of Jesus was a robber. The word used equally be translated insurrectionist. In a sense, they were not common criminals but, rather, impulsive and misguided men who had dared to offer leadership to the Jews who were desperately anxious to throw off the shackles of Roman domination. Luke tells us that one of these insurrectionists was bitter to the end, while the other had faith enough to say to Jesus, Remember me who you come into your kingdom7. Thus, again, were the Scriptures fulfilled, He was counted with the lawless ones8. The reference here is to Isaiah 53:12.