And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified. Matthew 27:31
Jesus was beaten, whipped and still bleeding from the crown of thorns when He was made to carry His cross to Golgotha, the Place of the Skull. Tired and weak from the loss of blood and dehydrated He couldn't bear the weight of the cross, so the Romans made a man named Simon carry it the rest of the way.
The Roman crucifixion was a horrible way to torture someone to death sometimes lasting days. Jesus was brought to the hill where they drove spikes through His hands and feet and nailed Him to the cross. Once the cross was set in the ground one had to push up with their feet to breathe because of the weight of their body on the diaphragm.
With a thief on either side and a religious mob hurling abuse at Him, the devil was overjoyed thinking the victory was won! One thief mocked Him while the other said to Him, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." Jesus told him, "Today you will be with Me in Paradise." This common thief was the first to receive forgiveness through the blood of Christ. FYI- The thief acknowledged Jesus as Lord, confessed his guilt before the other thief, and asked Jesus to remember him. He didn't pray a prayer or walk an aisle, he didn't join a church and wasn't baptized, he just believed and was saved!
He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities, the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes (blows that cut) we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
Your servant in Christ, Timothy Laughlin
Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ