After Jesus was condemned to death, he was led into the palace, where the whole company of soldiers brutally tortured him. They mocked him by saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" To the eyes of this world the kingship of Jesus is a mockery. But this is how his kingship over us is established. Jesus bore all this punishment, but by his wounds we have been healed (Isa 53:4-5)

Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry the heavy cross of Jesus. Jesus refused to take any pain-relieving drug. He bore all the pain on himself. The soldiers, who were assigned to the execution detail, were hardened men, unmoved by human suffering. They were only interested in what they could get. But Jesus died for them, too. The charge written above him was ironically true--"The King of the Jews." He is indeed the eternal King. Jesus was crucified like the two rebels next to him. But he was different. The passersby and even the chief priests taunted him. They tempted him to save himself. Jesus is our king because instead of saving himself, he offered himself and was crucified for our sins.


Application: Lord, thank you sending your Son as the king who saves me.
One Word: Jesus, the king who was crucified