Crucifixion And Death Of Jesus
Reflections
March 31, 2012, 11:18pm
MARK 15:22-39
The soldiers brought Jesus to the place of Golgotha (which is
translated Place of the Skull). They gave Him wine drugged with myrrh,
but He did not take it. Then they crucified Him and divided His
garments by casting lots for them to see what each should take. It was
nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified Him. The inscription of
the charge against Him read, “The King of the Jews.” With Him they
crucified two revolutionaries, one on His right and one on His left.
Those passing by reviled Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You
who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save
Yourself by coming down from the cross. Likewise the chief priests,
with the scribes, mocked Him among themselves and said, “He saved
others, He cannot save Himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel,
come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who
were crucified with Him also kept abusing Him.
At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the
afternoon. And at three o’clock, Jesus cried out in a loud voice,
“Eloi, Eloi, Lema sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God,
why have You forsaken Me?” Some of the bystanders who heard it said,
“Look, He is calling Elijah.” One of them ran, soaked a sponge with
wine, put it on a reed, and gave it to Him to drink, saying, “Wait, let
us see if Elijah comes to take Him down.” Jesus gave a loud cry and
breathed His last. The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top
to bottom. When the centurion who stood facing Him saw how He breathed
His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”
REFLECTIONS
They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, and cried out:
“Hosanna!” The liturgy of Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, putting
together Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem and His passion and
death, reflects the memorable events and high moments of our faith –
the grand moments of our baptism, confirmation, first communion,
marriage, and ordination, We celebrate. We are proud of the sacraments.
We shout, “Hosanna!” But when our faith is tested and we are asked to
carry our cross, we protest and rebel. When our faith and the
sacraments demand that we serve, we step back and complain. And we cry
out, “Crucify Him!”
The Holy Week celebrations make present the paschal mystery of Jesus
– His passion, death, and resurrection. We recall the Last Supper,
Judas’ betrayal, Peter’s denial, Jesus’ arrest and trial, His
humiliation and passion, His sentence and crucifixion, His death and
resurrection. Jesus fulfills the Father’s will. He shows true love and
forgiveness. There is no bitterness in His words, no resentment in His
mind, and no hatred in His heart. Jesus willingly accepts the cross and
crucifixion for our salvation.
Whatever I feel and decide to do, I will always remember and repeat the prayer of Jesus: “Not my will but Yours be done.”
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