Joh 19:18 | MHM | STEP | v. 18 : Jesus is taken outside the city to a place called Golgotha, which means "the place of a skull" (John 19:18 ). This was a common place for executions, and it was considered unclean. Jesus chose to suffer shame and pain in this place because he was taking our sins away (Hebrews 13:12 ). Some ancient writers say that Adam was buried here, or that this was the same mountain where Abraham almost sacrificed Isaac. Either way, Jesus’ suffering at Golgotha shows that he was "numbered among the transgressors" (Isaiah 53:12 ), dying as if he were a criminal, even though he was innocent. He was crucified with two others, likely to make his shame even greater. This fulfilled scripture and showed that Jesus truly took our place, not just dying, but dying as one rejected and despised. Let us pause and think about Jesus’ suffering. He was once praised by angels, now he was mocked by people. He had known joy and glory with the Father, but now felt pain and shame. See him bleeding and dying, and let it remind us of his love. Let us love him in return, and live our lives for him.

‏ John 19:18

v. 18: Jesus is taken outside the city to a place called Golgotha, which means "the place of a skull" (John 19:18 ^a). This was a common place for executions, and it was considered unclean. Jesus chose to suffer shame and pain in this place because he was taking our sins away (Hebrews 13:12 ^b). Some ancient writers say that Adam was buried here, or that this was the same mountain where Abraham almost sacrificed Isaac. Either way, Jesus’ suffering at Golgotha shows that he was "numbered among the transgressors" (Isaiah 53:12 ^c), dying as if he were a criminal, even though he was innocent. He was crucified with two others, likely to make his shame even greater. This fulfilled scripture and showed that Jesus truly took our place, not just dying, but dying as one rejected and despised.

Let us pause and think about Jesus’ suffering. He was once praised by angels, now he was mocked by people. He had known joy and glory with the Father, but now felt pain and shame. See him bleeding and dying, and let it remind us of his love. Let us love him in return, and live our lives for him.