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John 19:17-42 "THE ROAD TO GOLGOTHA"

Day 305 – John 19

THE ROAD TO GOLGOTHA

Simon of Cyrene carried the cross for Jesus. That proved a welcome respite for Jesus. Solemnly the Roman soldiers marched Jesus and two other prisoners to Golgotha. It was a heart-rending sight.

There were the hard-nosed indifferent Roman soldiers who were alert for the slightest indication of trouble. The chief priests and the crowds must have followed close by, to make sure that the crucifixion did take place and that their arch-enemy really died! The Disciples were nowhere in sight. If they were near by, they certainly kept themselves well hidden. The synoptist Luke noted the presence of women among the people who followed the procession to the Place of the Skull.

“And a great multitude of the people followed
Him, and women who also mourned and lamented
Him.”
Luke 23:27

What was the lament that could have been taken up for Jesus? Could the words of Isaiah be what they used to weep as Jesus walked by?

“He was taken from prison and from judgment,
And who will declare His generation?
For He was cut off from the land of the living …”
Isaiah 53:8

It was typical for a lament to include the reason for the cause of sorrow. Seen from the human standpoint, Jesus was cut off in the prime of His life! Who would declare His generation indeed! He was rudely and abruptly cut off from the land of the living. (If Jesus had just been an ordinary person, the lament would have included the fact that he had died so young, that he had not had time to have a family).

A WORD OF CONSOLATION

As the wails of the womenfolk went up, Jesus spoke to them. The eternal Teacher, once again summoned all His strength and gave His very last sermon.

“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me,
but weep for yourselves and for your children.
For indeed the days are coming in which they
will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that
never bore, and breasts which never nursed!’
Then they will begin to say to the mountains,
‘Fall on us!’ And to the hills, ‘Cover us!’
For if they do these things in the green wood,
what will be done in the dry?”
Luke 23:28-31

The wails of the women were intended to be a source of comfort and encouragement to Jesus. They were trying to say that they felt for Him and their hearts went out to Him. He was not totally alone. They were with Him, even though they couldn’t do anything for Him.

Jesus must have appreciated their tears. In response, He urged them to dry their tears for Him. He did not feel alone. He did not feel disconsolate, even if He seemed to be all alone. Was He not drinking the Cup of suffering that His Father had given Him? Was not His Father’s Presence with Him even as He walked to the Place of the Skull?

TEARS TO BE SHED FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM

As Jesus thought about the events that had transpired throughout the day, His heart went out to the city that had plotted the death of the very Person who had come to give them life.

Not so long ago, He had predicted the demise of the so-called Holy City. Let us recall what Luke wrote in this text.

“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by
armies, then know that its desolation is near.
Then let those who are in Judea flee to the
mountains, let those who are in the midst of
her depart, and let not those who are in the
country enter her. For these are the days of
vengeance, that all things which are written
may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are
pregnant and to those who are nursing babies
in those days! For there will be great distress
in the land and wrath upon this people. And
they will fall by the sword, and be led away
captive into all nations. And Jerusalem
will be trampled by Gentiles until the times
of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
Luke 21:20-24

Jesus confirmed that Jerusalem would be destroyed. The Father had sent His Son to His vineyard, and the vinedressers had plotted to kill the Son (Luke 20:9-18).

“Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard
do to them? He will come and destroy those
vinedressers and give the vineyard to others.”
Luke 20:15-16

The Jews, the chief priests and the elders had committed the worst possible sin! They had plotted the death of Jesus whom God had identified as His beloved Son through numerous signs and wonders performed to confirm His identity. They had plotted the death of the Messiah not because they did not know who He was, but because they had rejected Him! They thought little or nothing of killing Jesus. Their fate would be far worse! Their doom was sure! To Jesus, that thought should bring great sorrow!