The events of Jesus’ final hours leading to His death were gruesome. The Jewish mob blindfolded and mocked Him. The religious council entertained blatant lies about Him. Pilate scourged Him and sent Him to Herod who dismissed Him. The religious leaders instigated the crowd to call for His crucifixion. The soldiers tortured Him and nailed Him to a cross. They gambled over His clothes while the religious leaders continued in their mockery, “He saved others, let Him save Himself!” Even one of the thieves crucified next to Jesus joins in with the hateful accusers.

This demonstrates the loneliness that Jesus endured in facing the cross. The disciples had scattered and His followers could only watch from a distance. Yet Jesus didn’t respond to the mockery or defend Himself. Instead He declared, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

In the darkest hour in history, there were a few glimmers of hope. The other thief recognizes the glory of Jesus and asks to enter His kingdom, the Roman centurion watching over the proceedings declares, “Certainly this man was innocent!” and a member of the council gains the courage to ask for Jesus’ body to be buried.

We look at this cross with great sorrow, not only for the physical cruelty, but because it was turned against the One who didn't deserve it. Yet Jesus took up His cross and bore what we could not bear on our behalf.

Jesus told His disciples that they must take up their own crosses if they wanted to follow Him. He gave His life for us on that cross. Will we give Him our lives and daily follow Him?

Consider the cross of Christ, what He bore on our behalf, and pray for strength to take up our own crosses in devotion to Him.

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