True selected chapters cropped - Flipbook - Page 13
of the heavy cross. A man from Cyrene, in northern Africa, was
close by and they forced him to carry Jesus’ cross.
When they reached the place of crucifixion the cross was laid flat on
the ground. Jesus was stretched on it and his hands were nailed to
the wood. His feet were loosely bound. Between his legs projected
a ledge of wood, called a saddle, to take the weight when the cross
was raised upright. The cross was then lifted upright and set in its
socket. Jesus was left to die. Sometimes prisoners hung for days,
suffering hunger and thirst and the terrible struggle to breathe.
They offered Jesus drugged wine to ease the pain, but he refused it.
In the shadow of the cross the soldiers diced for Christ’s seamless
garment. It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified
him. Jesus had already suffered so much abuse, but it was not over
yet. Passers-by ridiculed him. At three o’clock Jesus breathed his
last breath. His mission was accomplished (Mark 15:21–39).
The cross has never lost its power and effect
to forgive, bless, empower and
grant eternal life through faith.
As evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member
of the council, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate,
having received confirmation of Jesus’ death, gave permission for
Joseph to take the body. Joseph had Jesus’ body wrapped in linen
and placed in a tomb cut out of rock. A stone was rolled against
the entrance of the tomb. Roman soldiers were posted outside
the tomb keeping guard. A Roman wax seal was set between the
stone door and the entrance. The soldiers had the responsibility
to ensure that the seal was not broken. They guarded the seal with
their lives because Roman law for soldiers stated that allowing a
seal to be unlawfully broken was punishable by death.
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