Mark 15:16-22
Luke 23:26-31
26. Cyrenian—of Cyrene, in Libya, on the north coast of Africa, where were many Jews who had a synagogue at Jerusalem (Ac 6:9, and see Ac 2:10). He was "the father of Alexander and Rufus" (Mr 15:21), probably better known afterwards than himself, as disciples. (See Ro 16:13).
out of the country—and casually drawn into that part of the crowd. laid the cross—"Him they compel to bear His cross," (Mt 27:32) —sweet compulsion, if it issued in him or his sons voluntarily "taking up their cross!" It would appear that our Lord had first to bear His own cross (Joh 19:17), but being from exhaustion unable to proceed, it was laid on another to bear it "after Him."27-31. women—not the precious Galilean women (Lu 23:49), but part of the crowd.
28. not for me, &c.—noble spirit of compassion, rising above His own dread endurances, in tender commiseration of sufferings yet in the distance and far lighter, but without His supports and consolations!
27-31. women—not the precious Galilean women (Lu 23:49), but part of the crowd.
30. mountains . . . hills, &c.— (Ho 10:8), flying hither and thither as they did in despair for shelter, during the siege; a very slight premonition of cries of another and more awful kind (Isa 2:10, 19, 21; Re 6:16, 17).
31. green tree—that naturally resists the fire.
the dry—that attracts the fire, being its proper fuel. The proverb here plainly means: "If such sufferings alight upon the innocent One, the very Lamb of God, what must be in store for those who are provoking the flames?"Lu 23:32-38, 44-46. CRUCIFIXION AND DEATH OF THE LORD JESUS.
(See on Joh 19:17-30).
Lu 23:39-43. THE TWO THIEVES.
John 19:2
2. the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head—in mockery of a regal crown.
and they put on him a purple robe—in mockery of the imperial purple; first "stripping him" (Mt 27:28) of His own outer garment. The robe may have been the "gorgeous" one in which Herod arrayed and sent Him back to Pilate (Lu 23:11). "And they put a reed into His right hand" (Mt 27:29) —in mockery of the regal scepter. "And they bowed the knee before Him" (Mt 27:29).John 19:17
17. And he bearing his cross—(See on Lu 23:26).
went forth—Compare Heb 13:11-13, "without the camp"; "without the gate." On arriving at the place, "they gave Him vinegar to drink mingled with gall [wine mingled with myrrh, Mr 15:23], and when He had tasted thereof, He would not drink" (Mt 27:34). This potion was stupefying, and given to criminals just before execution, to deaden the sense of pain.But our Lord would die with every faculty clear, and in full sensibility to all His sufferings.