Friday Morning: The Third Hour

They crucified Jesus about the third hour (9am).

It is about this time in Mark and Matthew that they flog Jesus, put a purple robe on Jesus and a crown of thorns, and begin to mock him. A man named Simon was passing by on his way in from the country. They forced him to carry the cross (John says Jesus carried his own cross; 19:17).

The sign over Jesus' head, giving the charge against him, reads, "The King of the Jews." John tells us it was in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek, and that the chief priests didn't like it. The soldiers cast lots for Jesus' clothing. In Luke Jesus says, "Father, forgive them, they don't know what they do."

He is crucified between two thieves. They mock Jesus, as do the chief priests and teachers of the law. "He saved others, but he can't save himself." In Luke of course, we hear that one of these thieves chides the other for mocking Jesus. Even in the final minutes of his life, Jesus promises that he will be with him that day in Paradise. Luke also tells us that a large number of people followed Jesus, including women, highlighting the pervasive attention Luke gives to the interaction of Jesus and the gospel with women. Jesus tells the "daughters of Jerusalem" not to weep for him.

They offer Jesus wine vinegar. Mark and Matthew say he refuses it.
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Mark tells us that the children of Simon of Cyrene were Alexander and Rufus. Surely these individuals are mentioned because they continued to be a part of the early Christian community. They are likely guarantors of this tradition.