The Way to Golgotha

The point: Do not contemplate the manger divorced from the cross.

An artist depicted a cross-shaped shadow cast by manger beams onto the infant Jesus, illustrating that Jesus was born to die the cruel death of the cross, connecting the incarnation to the crucifixion.

I don't know how many years ago it was, nor do I remember the particular circumstances in which the event occurred. But I cannot forget seeing, whether in a work of art, in a collection of famous works of art, or upon a Christmas card sent to me, a scene which sought to capture the true significance of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, as described in Luke 2 and verse 7, the familiar words which read as follows,

5:05 - 5:44 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: This section details how Simon of Cyrene was compelled by Roman soldiers to carry Jesus' cross. Martin explains the physical toll on Jesus, the Roman right of conscription, and…

A summary of Jesus' preceding hours of suffering (fasting, Gethsemane, trials, scourging) is quoted to emphasize the tremendous physical and emotional toll on Him, explaining why He could not carry the cross.

physical and emotional constitution. One has accurately summarized these facts in the following words, since the paschal supper, Jesus had not tasted either food or drink. After the deep emotion of that feast. With all of the holiest institutions.

12:30 - 12:53 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: This section details how Simon of Cyrene was compelled by Roman soldiers to carry Jesus' cross. Martin explains the physical toll on Jesus, the Roman right of conscription, and…

The analogy of an injured football player being 'carried' off the field, leaning on others, is used to illustrate Jesus' extreme weakness, suggesting He needed major assistance to even walk to Golgotha.

And they bring him. It's not the ordinary word that would be used in this case. It is the Greek verb pharaoh, which generally means to bear or to carry. And it may be that our Lord was so weakened that if they did not literally pick him up and carry him, they may have had to do with him as we so often see if we watch football at all, where a man's injury is such that he cannot under his own strength remove himself from the field of play.

24:38 - 25:13 Read in full sermon

Driving home: If these things be done to me in the green, what shall be done in the dry?

The description of Eastern custom regarding wailing and lamentation (unbridled venting, mingled wail and shriek) is used to explain the intensity of the women's grief for Jesus.

In that company there was this group of women. It is not said that they were believing women, that they were followers of Jesus, but apparently in the more natural tenderness of the feminine gender, less hardened than the men, they find this effusiveness of tremendous emotion as they behold the staggering Jesus, the cross being lifted from him to Simon. And now this is more than they can bear, and they are bewailing and lamenting him. And those familiar with Eastern custom know that this was not the muffled sob that we are accustomed to hearing in our funeral parlors.

28:02 - 28:39 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Compassion was not their motive. Convenience and efficiency in getting their bloody, cruel job.

The known fact that condemned men can exhibit 'superhuman strength' at the point of execution is used to explain why soldiers might offer drugged wine – to subdue a potentially recalcitrant criminal and make their task easier.

They bring him to the place called Golgotha, that is, the military contingency. And without any indication that there is a different reference in the pronoun, they offered him wine mingled with myrrh. And so allowing the text to cast its weight of balance in our judgment, it is my own personal conviction that the soldiers offered it not as an act of compassion, but to make their job easier. For they had seen many times as professional executioners that the weakest of men, when brought to the point where he's about to be slain,

44:07 - 44:51 Read in full sermon