They Know Not

When they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.
And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were mourning and lamenting Him. But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that 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 when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him.

When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. Luke 23:26-34


The trials were over. The sad procession started. Jesus was already weakened by the torture he'd received throughout the ordeal. A man was grabbed and compelled to carry Jesus' cross and walk behind Him. Interesting that Luke makes a point of giving us the name of Simon of Cyrene. There is always a reason for any information found in the Word of God. We can only speculate about the reason this man is named, since I find no other reference, except mention by other gospel writers of this same event. Cyrene was in North Africa and many Jews lived there. This narrative shows again what a large ingathering was occurring in Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. People from all nations and all races and walks of life were present there, and a great many of them witnessed this horrible spectacle being performed in the city.

There was still a large crowd who were following Jesus out of love and great concern. Many women were grieving along the way as they watched our Lord being led to His death. Perhaps others were just lookers-on, or even enemies of Jesus, who continued to follow, anxious to see Him die. Even in His weakened physical state, He had words for those who were listening: "don't weep for me." It is you and your children who will soon see great suffering, so grievous that it would have been better not to have children during that time. There will be great devastation upon Jerusalem in the coming days. If the world will treat an innocent man (green tree) in this manner, there is no limit to what the Jewish nation (dry: unbelievers) will have to endure in time of war. They will beg to die.

Jesus and two criminals who were being executed with Him were taken to the place of the Skull, and Luke simply states they were crucified, with the two criminals on either side of Him. And Jesus prayed for His executioners! "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." This grace came from the heart of God.

Then the executioners claimed their fringe benefits by casting lots for His garments. This was a fulfillment of Psalm 22:18. The royal robe was a particularly nice piece to take as a trophy, no doubt. This, the atoning execution of the Lamb of God, was just routine business for those hardened soldiers. What did they care about a miracle-working Jew? Nothing. Drive the nails, divide the garments, get on with the business at hand. They did not know what they were doing, but He knew what He was doing. He was paying the penalty for their sins.