(Not) Dying Alone
Why was Jesus crucified with two others?
I once heard an individual who was formerly incarcerated tell a story about when he was in prison. To pass the time, he would volunteer in the hospital wing, which had a hospice section. He would simply sit with those prisoners who were dying. He confessed that he did so in part because they had TVs in those rooms and he’d watch baseball. He shared a particular story about sitting with one man who stopped breathing and died in between innings. He said something hit him in that moment, just the two of them sitting there together, both prisoners. If not for his presence, that man would have died alone.
In prison.
There’s obviously much to consider in the passion narratives. We’ll leave each and every detail for Lent or Holy Week and focus on one for this read-through.
The notion of Jesus being crucified with two others jumps out this time around. Perhaps for many of us who’ve heard the story many times or seen three crosses all together since childhood, it’s simply a matter of long-held fact-of-the-matter.
But is there any significance?
John doesn’t give any more detail about these two than that they were crucified with Jesus (the other gospels variously and famously tell of one or both’s derision and one’s humility). Here are some considerations:
Jesus, even at the end, was present with others he came to save. Regardless of the reasons for their condemnation to death, Jesus was with them.
What would it look like or feel like to think that Jesus was crucified alone?
When we particularly remember the actual brutality of the scene of a crucifixion - the blood, the anguish, the naked bodies, the power exemplified by lumbered wood and metal nails, the presence of soldiers looking on, the passersby who shuddered, mocked, or simply ignored, the grief of loved ones looking on… - that there were others crucified with Jesus is poignant.
Perhaps Jesus crucified with others sets a scene in which he is “lost in the crowd.” His death was that humble, that seemingly-insignificant, that ho-hum.
Above all, his death with others condemned is exactly on point for the way God intends to save the world.
John 19:17-30
Carrying his cross by himself, he went out to a place called Skull Place (in Aramaic, Golgotha). That’s where they crucified him—and two others with him, one on each side and Jesus in the middle. Pilate had a public notice written and posted on the cross. It read “Jesus the Nazarene, the king of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city and it was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. Therefore, the Jewish chief priests complained to Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The king of the Jews’ but ‘This man said, “I am the king of the Jews.”’”
Pilate answered, “What I’ve written, I’ve written.”
When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and his sandals, and divided them into four shares, one for each soldier. His shirt was seamless, woven as one piece from the top to the bottom. They said to each other, “Let’s not tear it. Let’s cast lots to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill the scripture,
They divided my clothes among themselves,
and they cast lots for my clothing.
That’s what the soldiers did.
Jesus’ mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood near the cross. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
After this, knowing that everything was already completed, in order to fulfill the scripture, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was nearby, so the soldiers soaked a sponge in it, placed it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, “It is completed.” Bowing his head, he gave up his life.
Prayer
God,
Who were the others crucified with Jesus? I know the gospels tell us a bit, but I’d like to know their names. Who were their family members? Why were they condemned to death? Did they actually commit the crimes for which they were condemned?
I don’t know why these things vex me. I suppose I’ve heard enough stories of people dying in prison or on the edge of the road or on a city street, without any fanfare at all, that I just want to know who they are.
I don’t have confidence in the specifics of how eternal heaven will work, God, but I’d like to meet these men, or the one who was nice, or whatever.
Until then, help me notice, befriend, and stand with those in similar situations today.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.