The Crucifixion
When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified (Mark 15:20 NLT).
This scene occurred within the walls of the city of Jerusalem, whilst the crucifixion occurred on the hill called Golgotha (meaning “place of the skull”), which was outside the city’s walls.
Whilst the religious leaders possibly felt threatened by Jesus (& the kingdom of God) the common people loved Him: his personality, his teachings, & his miraculous, healing powers. That is why I have drawn the religious leaders as smiling, but the crowds are tearful & sorrowful, as Jesus is being led to his death.
“After having their fun, the soldiers took off the purple robe and put Jesus’ own clothes on him again. Then he was taken out to be crucified. Probably only four soldiers under the command of an officer (15:39) actually went out to the site to perform the execution because John mentions that the soldiers at the cross divided his clothing “among the four of them” (John 19:23).”
[Source: Life Application New Testament Commentary.]
This scene occurred within the walls of the city of Jerusalem, whilst the crucifixion occurred on the hill called Golgotha (meaning “place of the skull”), which was outside the city’s walls.
Whilst the religious leaders possibly felt threatened by Jesus (& the kingdom of God) the common people loved Him: his personality, his teachings, & his miraculous, healing powers. That is why I have drawn the religious leaders as smiling, but the crowds are tearful & sorrowful, as Jesus is being led to his death.
“After having their fun, the soldiers took off the purple robe and put Jesus’ own clothes on him again. Then he was taken out to be crucified. Probably only four soldiers under the command of an officer (15:39) actually went out to the site to perform the execution because John mentions that the soldiers at the cross divided his clothing “among the four of them” (John 19:23).”
[Source: Life Application New Testament Commentary.]
When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified (Mark 15:20 NLT).
Mark 15:1 states that the trial of Jesus, before Pontius Pilate took place , “Very early in the morning.” Mark 15:28 states that the crucifixion of Jesus took place at 9am. Therefore, this scene is set after dawn, but before 9am.
Jesus, carrying the cross. Roman soldiers (in metal & leather armour, carrying spears) & a crowd of Hebrew on-lookers. In the background, on the right, we can see various religious leaders, looking pleased that Jesus is going to his death.
Notice the 2 mice, along with an old over-ripe Orange in the foreground boxes!
A man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was coming in from the country just then, and they forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. (Simon is the father of Alexander and Rufus.) (Mark 15:21 NLT).
Mark 15:1 states that the trial of Jesus, before Pontius Pilate took place , “Very early in the morning.” Mark 15:28 states that the crucifixion of Jesus took place at 9am. Therefore, this scene is set after dawn, but before 9am.
Jesus, carrying the cross. Roman soldiers (in metal & leather armour, carrying spears) & a crowd of Hebrew on-lookers. In the background, on the right, we can see various religious leaders, looking pleased that Jesus is going to his death.
Notice the 2 mice, along with an old over-ripe Orange in the foreground boxes!
A man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was coming in from the country just then, and they forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. (Simon is the father of Alexander and Rufus.) (Mark 15:21 NLT).
And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which means Skull Hill). They offered him wine drugged with myrrh, but he refused it. Then they nailed him to the cross. They gambled for his clothes, throwing dice to decide who would get them (Mark 15:22-24).
Jesus, on the cross. Roman soldiers in tunics & leather armour. There is a Gecko (lizard) on a rock in the foreground.
Notice the wineskin mentioned in the above text, whilst we know from verse 36 that a sponge was used to offer sour wine to Jesus on the cross, later in the day.
‘Wine drugged with myrrh was offered to Jesus to help reduce his pain. Myrrh is generally understood to be a narcotic that was used to deaden pain. Tradition says women of Jerusalem prepared and offered this drink to condemned men. This also may allude to Psalm 69:21. But Jesus refused to drink it. He chose to suffer fully conscious and with a clear mind.’ (Source: Life Application New Testament Commentary.)
Jesus, on the cross. Roman soldiers in tunics & leather armour. There is a Gecko (lizard) on a rock in the foreground.
Notice the wineskin mentioned in the above text, whilst we know from verse 36 that a sponge was used to offer sour wine to Jesus on the cross, later in the day.
‘Wine drugged with myrrh was offered to Jesus to help reduce his pain. Myrrh is generally understood to be a narcotic that was used to deaden pain. Tradition says women of Jerusalem prepared and offered this drink to condemned men. This also may allude to Psalm 69:21. But Jesus refused to drink it. He chose to suffer fully conscious and with a clear mind.’ (Source: Life Application New Testament Commentary.)
Then they nailed him to the cross. They gambled for his clothes, throwing dice to decide who would get them (Mark 15:24 NLT).
Only the feet of Jesus, on the cross are visible at the top of the scene. The Roman Centurion can be seen to the left of the cross, looking up at Jesus. There are four Roman soldiers in the foreground, throwing dice. These are the same figures from the previous scene (Mark 15 – The Crucifixion – Scene 07 – Nailed to the cross.).
You can see four Hebrew figures behind the Centurion, two are Pharisees (in Blue robes with pale shawls over their heads) & two unidentified onlookers. The group of four figures in the right background are, from left to right: Mary (the wife of Cleopas), Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of Jesus, comforting a girl in green) & John (son of Zebedee, the disciple whom Jesus loved.)
Only the feet of Jesus, on the cross are visible at the top of the scene. The Roman Centurion can be seen to the left of the cross, looking up at Jesus. There are four Roman soldiers in the foreground, throwing dice. These are the same figures from the previous scene (Mark 15 – The Crucifixion – Scene 07 – Nailed to the cross.).
You can see four Hebrew figures behind the Centurion, two are Pharisees (in Blue robes with pale shawls over their heads) & two unidentified onlookers. The group of four figures in the right background are, from left to right: Mary (the wife of Cleopas), Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of Jesus, comforting a girl in green) & John (son of Zebedee, the disciple whom Jesus loved.)
It was nine o’clock in the morning when the crucifixion took place. A signboard was fastened to the cross above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against him. It read: “The King of the Jews.” Two criminals were crucified with him, their crosses on either side of his (Mark 15:25-28 NLT).
Some manuscripts add verse 28, ‘And the scripture was fulfilled that said, “He was counted among those who were rebels”. see Isaiah 53:12.
Jesus in the centre, hung on the cross, with a Roman soldier hanging the sign board above his head. Another Roman soldier holding the ladder. We can see 1 of the 2 criminals with head bowed. We can only see the back & end of the cross beam & the rope tying the 2nd criminals arm to his cross, on the left of the picture.
At the bottom right of the scene, from left to right are: Mary (wife of Cleopas), Mary Magdalene, John (son of Zebedee, the disciple whom Jesus loved) & Mary (the mother of Jesus).
Some manuscripts add verse 28, ‘And the scripture was fulfilled that said, “He was counted among those who were rebels”. see Isaiah 53:12.
Jesus in the centre, hung on the cross, with a Roman soldier hanging the sign board above his head. Another Roman soldier holding the ladder. We can see 1 of the 2 criminals with head bowed. We can only see the back & end of the cross beam & the rope tying the 2nd criminals arm to his cross, on the left of the picture.
At the bottom right of the scene, from left to right are: Mary (wife of Cleopas), Mary Magdalene, John (son of Zebedee, the disciple whom Jesus loved) & Mary (the mother of Jesus).
And the people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Ha! Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You can destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days, can you? Well then, save yourself and come down from the cross!”
The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe him!” Even the two criminals who were being crucified with Jesus ridiculed him (Mark 15:29-32 NLT).
Jesus was crucified at about 9am in the morning, according to Mark 15:25. Mark 15:33 states that at noon (12 O’clock) darkness fell across the land.
Jesus the Christ is hanging on the wooden cross to the left of the scene, with one of the criminals on the cross next to his. Notice that the man is hurling insults at Jesus, just like the crowd below them.
In the background, on the left, between the two crosses, you can see a small group of Jesus’ disciples. On the extreme left stands Andrew (Simon/Peter’s brother & one of the 12 disciples of Christ), the other people there are unspecified followers/disciples. To the right of the criminals cross, also in the background stands Mary Magdalene & John (son of Zebedee and brother of James.) Notice Mary Magdalene is crying.
In the foreground are various religious leaders, scribes, teachers of the law & various other Hebrew people. Most of them are jeering & gesturing at Jesus, but notice that there are three women (in the middle of the scene) who are looking sad, upset & crying. Not everyone would have delighted in the crucifixion & death of Jesus. There is a blue bird, sitting on its nest in the corner of the stone work of the walls, in the centre of the picture. There is a white bird sitting on the keystone of the arch of the gateway.
The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe him!” Even the two criminals who were being crucified with Jesus ridiculed him (Mark 15:29-32 NLT).
Jesus was crucified at about 9am in the morning, according to Mark 15:25. Mark 15:33 states that at noon (12 O’clock) darkness fell across the land.
Jesus the Christ is hanging on the wooden cross to the left of the scene, with one of the criminals on the cross next to his. Notice that the man is hurling insults at Jesus, just like the crowd below them.
In the background, on the left, between the two crosses, you can see a small group of Jesus’ disciples. On the extreme left stands Andrew (Simon/Peter’s brother & one of the 12 disciples of Christ), the other people there are unspecified followers/disciples. To the right of the criminals cross, also in the background stands Mary Magdalene & John (son of Zebedee and brother of James.) Notice Mary Magdalene is crying.
In the foreground are various religious leaders, scribes, teachers of the law & various other Hebrew people. Most of them are jeering & gesturing at Jesus, but notice that there are three women (in the middle of the scene) who are looking sad, upset & crying. Not everyone would have delighted in the crucifixion & death of Jesus. There is a blue bird, sitting on its nest in the corner of the stone work of the walls, in the centre of the picture. There is a white bird sitting on the keystone of the arch of the gateway.
Text and Illustrations by Martin Young, Northamptonshire, England - https://www.facebook.com/martin.biblecartoons - reproduced by kind permission: