基督被钉十架
马太福音二十七章32至50节
32他们出来的时候，遇见一个古利奈人，名叫西门，就勉强他同去，好背着耶稣的十字架。
33到了一个地方名叫各各他，意思就是髑髅地。
34兵丁拿苦胆调和的酒给耶稣喝。他尝了，就不肯喝。
35他们既将他钉在十字架上，就拈阄分他的衣服，
36又坐在那里看守他。
37在他头以上安一个牌子，写着他的罪状说：“这是犹太人的王耶稣。”
38当时，有两个强盗和他同钉十字架，一个在右边，一个在左边。
39从那里经过的人讥诮他，摇着头，说：
40“你这拆毁圣殿，三日又建造起来的，可以救自己吧！你如果是神的儿子，就从十字架上下来吧！”
41祭司长和文士并长老也是这样戏弄他，说：
42“他救了别人，不能救自己。他是以色列的王，现在可以从十字架上下来，我们就信他。
43他倚靠神，神若喜悦他，现在可以救他，因为他曾说：‘我是神的儿子。’”
44那和他同钉的强盗也是这样地讥诮他。
45从午正到申初，遍地都黑暗了。
46约在申初，耶稣大声喊着说：“以利！以利！拉马撒巴各大尼？”就是说：“我的神！我的神！为甚么离弃我？”
47站在那里的人，有的听见就说：“这个人呼叫以利亚呢！”
48内中有一个人赶紧跑去，拿海绒蘸满了醋绑在苇子上，送给他喝。
49其余的人说：“且等着，看以利亚来救他不来。”
50耶稣又大声喊叫，气就断了。
信息分享
基督被挂在十架上六小时：三小时在日光之下，三小时在黑暗之中。开始的三个小时发生了很多事，基督说了三句话，每句话都显出祂的伟大和爱。祂求神赦免钉祂的人；祂将救恩赐给一名被钉的强盗；对祂母亲和约翰表达关爱。那期间，兵丁拈阄分祂的衣服，祭司长等人讥诮祂，在旁的妇女一直在哭泣。
钉十架的刑罚不会令人很快死去，犯人可能要在极大的痛苦和无法忍受的干渴之下，历尽几天的煎熬才死去。然而，那一天，就在正午时分，天色突然变得昏暗，一直持续了三个钟头。在那段期间，基督再次开口说话，一共四次，其中一句最凄惨的话是：「我的神，你在哪里？为甚么离弃我？」我们当然知道神为何转脸不看祂，因为基督已背负了我们所有人的罪，神不愿看见戴罪的祂。
后来，基督说了一句意味深长的话，对我们意义重大。祂说：「成了。」换言之，从创世以来的整个救恩计划已经完成了；神交给祂的工作，祂已经完成了；父要祂喝的苦杯，祂已经喝了；如今既已大功告成，祂可以回到父那里去了。因此，到了这一刻，祂终于可以说：「父啊，我将灵魂交在你的手中。」
祂凭着简单且全然的信心，放弃自己的生命，因为祂相信父神当然不会容让祂留在死地，却要使祂从死里复活。我们当然知道故事在接着的星期日如何发展。感谢神，祂的大爱成就了整个救恩计划。
THE DAY CHRIST DIED
Matthew 27:32-50
32 Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross.
33 And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull,
34 they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink.
35 Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet:
“They divided My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.”
36 Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there.
37 And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him:
38 Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left.
39 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads
40 and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”
41 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said,
42 “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.
43 He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
44 Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.
45 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land.
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
47 Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!”
48 Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink.
49 The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.”
50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
Message
Christ was six hours on the cross, three in sunlight and three in darkness. The first three were busy hours. He spoke three times, each time revealing His greatness and His love. He spoke words of forgiveness to His executioners. He spoke salvation to the thief and love to His mother and John. In those hours the soldiers played dice, while the priests scoffed at Him. Women nearby were weeping.
Crucifixion did not bring about a quick death. It was possible for men to last several days in terrible agony and unbearable thirst. On this day the scene was suddenly blotted out right at noon and darkness lasted three hours. During this time Christ spoke again, this time on four occasions: One statement contains the most tragic words ever heard, “My God, where are you? Why have you left me?” We know the answer of course because God had turned His back - He was laying on Him the sin of us all and God could not look on sin.
Then later He said those grand words which mean so much to us, “It is finished.” What did He mean? The whole plan of salvation worked out in eternity was completed. The work God gave Him to do was done. The cup the Father gave Him to drink had been drunk. He could go home to the Father with everything finalised. Then and only then, could He say, “Father into your hands I commit my spirit.”
He literally gave up His own life in simple yet wonderful faith that the Father would not leave Him in the place of death but would bring Him back to life again. We know the rest of the story - then came Sunday!
Thank God for the love which drew salvation’s plan.