And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
Two other criminals, companions of Barabbas, were led out at the same time with Jesus to be put to death, with crosses laid upon them as well as upon Him, to Calvary outside Jerusalem where felons and murderers were executed. There three crosses were erected with Jesus between the two criminals, all bound to the instrument of torture, the two thieves wrestling and resisting as they were stretched upon their crosses while Jesus made no resistance. He was innocent yet condemned as a malefactor by an unrighteous tribunal, with the Jewish priests and rulers forcing the Roman governor to carry out their will for His death alongside the criminals. The two criminals represent the two classes who have felt sin's poison, those who look to the crucified Christ in faith living forever and those who harden themselves and reject Him dying without hope, for while hanging with them one repented, acknowledged Him and asked to be remembered in His kingdom, and He accepted and pardoned him. His being led to execution as a malefactor was unexpected by His disciples who had not expected Him to be rejected, condemned and crucified, and His dying in humiliation in the hands of wicked men as the one in whom their hopes of eternal life were centered is the taking away of the Bridegroom giving cause to mourn and fast, belonging to the account that continues through His burial to His resurrection on the third day.
Execution Setting and Details
Two companions of Barabbas were led out with Jesus at the same time to be put to death, and crosses were laid upon them as well as upon Him. The place of execution was Calvary outside Jerusalem, known as the place where felons and murderers were executed. Jesus was led from the judgment hall to Calvary to be put to death, followed by a vast multitude.
News of His condemnation had spread throughout Jerusalem, and people of all classes and all ranks from the city and the surrounding region flocked toward the place of crucifixion. The priests and rulers were bound by a promise not to molest His followers if He Himself were delivered to them, so the disciples and believers joined the throng that followed the Saviour. The cross laid upon His bruised and bleeding shoulders had been prepared for Barabbas.
He bore His burden only a few rods before He fell fainting to the ground beneath its weight from loss of blood and excessive weariness and pain. His mother longed to place a supporting hand beneath His wounded head and bathe His brow, but was denied that privilege. At the site three crosses were erected, with Jesus between the two criminals.
All were bound to the instrument of torture. The two thieves wrestled and resisted in the hands of those who stretched them upon their crosses, while Jesus made no resistance. He was innocent yet condemned as a malefactor by an unrighteous tribunal.
The Jewish priests and rulers forced the Roman governor to carry out their will for His death alongside the criminals.
Meaning and Disciples' Response
The two who were led out with Him stand for the two classes among all who have felt the poison of sin. Those who look to the crucified Christ in faith, as did the believing thief, will live forever, while those who harden themselves and refuse to believe, as did the other thief, will die without hope. Hung between them, He was acknowledged by one criminal who repented and asked to be remembered in His kingdom, and He accepted that penitent and pardoned his sins.
That He should be led to execution as a malefactor was wholly unexpected by His disciples, who had not looked for Him to be rejected by His own nation, condemned, and crucified. He in whom their hopes of eternal life were centered, and whom they thought would take His place on David's throne, was in the hands of wicked men and dying in humiliation. This was the taking away of the Bridegroom, giving cause to mourn and fast, trying faith and causing hope and courage to fail. His being led to death belongs to the one account that runs on through His burial to His resurrection on the third day, announced to the women who came to anoint His body.
Two other criminals, companions of Barabbas, were led out at the same time with Jesus to be put to death, with crosses laid upon them as well as upon Him, to Calvary outside Jerusalem where felons and murderers were executed. There three crosses were erected with Jesus between the two criminals, all bound to the instrument of torture, the two thieves wrestling and resisting as they were stretched upon their crosses while Jesus made no resistance. He was innocent yet condemned as a malefactor by an unrighteous tribunal, with the Jewish priests and rulers forcing the Roman governor to carry out their will for His death alongside the criminals. The two criminals represent the two classes who have felt sin's poison, those who look to the crucified Christ in faith living forever and those who harden themselves and reject Him dying without hope, for while hanging with them one repented, acknowledged Him and asked to be remembered in His kingdom, and He accepted and pardoned him. His being led to execution as a malefactor was unexpected by His disciples who had not expected Him to be rejected, condemned and crucified, and His dying in humiliation in the hands of wicked men as the one in whom their hopes of eternal life were centered is the taking away of the Bridegroom giving cause to mourn and fast, belonging to the account that continues through His burial to His resurrection on the third day.
Execution Setting and Details
Two companions of Barabbas were led out with Jesus at the same time to be put to death, and crosses were laid upon them as well as upon Him. The place of execution was Calvary outside Jerusalem, known as the place where felons and murderers were executed. Jesus was led from the judgment hall to Calvary to be put to death, followed by a vast multitude.
News of His condemnation had spread throughout Jerusalem, and people of all classes and all ranks from the city and the surrounding region flocked toward the place of crucifixion. The priests and rulers were bound by a promise not to molest His followers if He Himself were delivered to them, so the disciples and believers joined the throng that followed the Saviour. The cross laid upon His bruised and bleeding shoulders had been prepared for Barabbas.
He bore His burden only a few rods before He fell fainting to the ground beneath its weight from loss of blood and excessive weariness and pain. His mother longed to place a supporting hand beneath His wounded head and bathe His brow, but was denied that privilege. At the site three crosses were erected, with Jesus between the two criminals.
All were bound to the instrument of torture. The two thieves wrestled and resisted in the hands of those who stretched them upon their crosses, while Jesus made no resistance. He was innocent yet condemned as a malefactor by an unrighteous tribunal.
The Jewish priests and rulers forced the Roman governor to carry out their will for His death alongside the criminals.
Meaning and Disciples' Response
The two who were led out with Him stand for the two classes among all who have felt the poison of sin. Those who look to the crucified Christ in faith, as did the believing thief, will live forever, while those who harden themselves and refuse to believe, as did the other thief, will die without hope. Hung between them, He was acknowledged by one criminal who repented and asked to be remembered in His kingdom, and He accepted that penitent and pardoned his sins.
That He should be led to execution as a malefactor was wholly unexpected by His disciples, who had not looked for Him to be rejected by His own nation, condemned, and crucified. He in whom their hopes of eternal life were centered, and whom they thought would take His place on David's throne, was in the hands of wicked men and dying in humiliation. This was the taking away of the Bridegroom, giving cause to mourn and fast, trying faith and causing hope and courage to fail. His being led to death belongs to the one account that runs on through His burial to His resurrection on the third day, announced to the women who came to anoint His body.