Jesus on the Way to Golgotha (3)

[Luke 23:26–32]

The first event that occurred on the way to Golgotha was that Simon of Cyrene was compelled to carry the cross of Jesus (Luke 23:26).
The second was that a large crowd followed Jesus (v.27).
The third was that two other criminals were led away with Him.
Look at Luke 23:32: "Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed."
The phrase “two criminals” is described in the Gospel of John as “two men” (John 19:18), in Matthew as “two robbers” (Matthew 27:38) or simply “robbers” (v.44), and in Mark as “two robbers” (Mark 15:27).
At that time, crucifixion was not the only punishment given to robbers.
However, since these two were taken with Jesus toward Golgotha, it suggests they were particularly violent criminals.
Did their presence help or benefit Jesus in any way? Certainly not. How do we know?

When Jesus raised Lazarus, who had been dead for four days and whose body had begun to smell (John 11:41–44), the witnesses were divided.
Many of the Jews who had come to comfort Mary and saw what Jesus did believed in Him (v.45).
But some of them went to the Pharisees and reported what Jesus had done (v.46).
As a result, the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin (vv.47–48), and that year’s high priest, Caiaphas, spoke (vv.49–52), after which they began to plot Jesus' death (v.53, Modern Translation).

When Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a colt, many in the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, others cut branches and laid them down, shouting:
"Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:7–9).
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” (v.10).
The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” (v.11).
Here, the word “prophet” refers to the one Moses spoke of in Deuteronomy 18:15:
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.”
This prophet is the long-awaited Messiah, Jesus Christ.

After that, Jesus healed the blind and the lame in the temple.
When the chief priests and scribes saw the “wonderful things” He did, and the children shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant and asked,
“Do you hear what these children are saying?” (Matthew 21:14–16, Modern Translation).
Jesus replied, quoting Psalm 8:2:
"Yes; have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” (Matthew 21:16).
Thus, the chief priests did not believe Jesus to be the “prophet like Moses” as foretold in Deuteronomy 18:15, despite the crowd referring to Him as “Jesus the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee” (v.11).
That is why they began plotting to kill Him after He raised Lazarus (John 11:53, Modern Translation).

They accused Jesus before the Roman governor, Pilate (Luke 23:2, Modern Translation).
Pilate stated three times that Jesus was innocent (vv.4, 14, 22), and tried to release Him (v.20), but his efforts failed.
Eventually, the crowd shouted louder and demanded Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed (v.23).
So Pilate gave in and handed Jesus over to be crucified (vv.24–25, Modern Translation).

Then the chief priests had two other criminals — the same violent robbers (Matthew 27:38, 44; Mark 15:27) — taken along with Jesus to Golgotha.
Why? To subtly make Jesus appear to the crowd as one of those vile criminals.
And to some extent, their plan worked. How do we know?

Let’s look at Matthew 27:38–42:
"Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, 'You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!' In the same way, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 'He saved others,' they said, 'but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.'"

As Jesus hung on the cross between two criminals, passersby, along with the priests, scribes, and elders, mocked and insulted Him.
But this happened in fulfillment of what the prophet Isaiah had foretold about 700 years before:
Isaiah 53:12 — “Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

As Isaiah prophesied, Jesus was “numbered with the transgressors.”
In other words, by being crucified alongside two criminals, Jesus was treated as a condemned criminal.
Why was the sinless Jesus — whom even the Roman governor Pilate declared innocent three times — treated like a violent criminal?
To forgive and save sinners like us, who were under a sentence of eternal death.
Therefore, we must give thanks, praise, and worship to God for this amazing grace and love, and dedicate our lives to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

(Verse 1)
O wondrous grace of our Lord divine,
He bore our sins to save our soul.
Upon the cross of Calvary,
The Lamb of God shed His blood whole.

(Verse 2)
Though sin like raging waters rise
And threaten our hearts to despair,
Unmeasured grace was shown to us
By Christ on that cross so fair.

(Verse 3)
The blood of Christ still flows today
To cleanse the soul from sin and shame.
Come now and be made white as snow,
Washed in His blood and in His name.

(Verse 4)
This matchless grace is freely given
To all who put their trust in Him.
O brother, come without delay,
Accept His gift, be cleansed within.

(Refrain)
The grace of God
Has washed away our sin!
The grace of God
Has washed away our sin!

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[New Hymnal #251 – “O Wondrous Grace of the Lord”]