In present day Israel, the Place of the Skull overlooks a busy commercial area of Jerusalem, with a bus depot at its base filled with engine fumes. People mill around with little thought of the momentous event that took place there nearly 2000 years ago. Holy Land tourists flinch at the thought that such a hallowed place could be so desecrated as a common, dirty place for the hum drum of life. Yet that is what it was like back in the day when Jesus was marched up there. At the base was a commonly travelled thoroughfare; Rome always availed itself of the most public of venues for crucifying its condemned. Jesus’ death was treated no differently. All the populace could see, as they carried on the normal business of life, the fate of those who dared contravene Roman loyalties. Ironically, Pilate allowed such for the crime of contravening loyalty to the religious hierarchy.

Jesus was offered an opiate, wine mixed with gall, to dull the pain—a usual custom either as a show of pity or to prolong the suffering. Crucifixion was intended to be the most painful form of death. Jesus refused the elixir, desiring to experience the full impact of the suffering.

Matthew records few details, “And when they had crucified Him…” The depths of this will never exhaust faithful study and reflection. God was and is magnified in this one stroke: the revelation of His true character in Christ, as the One who is just and the justifier of all who have faith in Jesus (Rom 3:26). What men meant for evil, God meant for the supreme good of all mankind.

The soldiers, of earthly mind, who crucified Him, called upon a game of chance to divvy up Jesus’ clothing. Little did they know that they could gain the clothing of Christ’s righteousness, not through chance, but by faith.

The charge for which He was condemned was tacked above His head, as was normal custom—so that all would be warned not to commit the same crime. In His case, though, the charge simply read, “This is Jesus the King of the Jews.” To the Romans, this was the charge of treason. To the Jewish leaders, mockery. To the Sovereign of the Universe, it was the truth!