JesusX30 Challenge—Scene 26: BATTLE TO THE DEATH
@TysonPutthoff | #JesusX30Challenge #JesusX30 #JX30Challenge
1. Key Texts
• Matthew 27
• Mark 15
• Luke 23
• John 19
• Isaiah 52–53; Psalm 22 (background)
2. Date & Place
• Spring 29 AD, during Passover Week.
• Locations: the Praetorium, Via Dolorosa route, Golgotha (“Place of the Skull”), and a new tomb in a nearby garden.
• Rome and Temple leadership converge to eliminate Jesus; the crucifixion is political, religious, and cosmic all at once.
3. Main Account
A. Mock Coronation (Praetorium)
• Soldiers clothe Jesus in purple, twist a crown of thorns, and hail him as “King of the Jews.”
• Their mockery becomes accidental truth—the King is revealed through suffering.
B. The Way of the Cross (Via Dolorosa)
• Jesus carries the patibulum until collapsing.
• Simon of Cyrene is compelled to carry it—an unexpected share in Jesus’ suffering that early Christians remembered.
• Discipleship begins in moments we don’t choose.
C. Crucifixion at Golgotha
• Jesus is executed between two lēstai—rebels/insurrectionists, not petty thieves.
• Rome crucifies him as a political threat.
• He refuses the painkiller; he embraces suffering awake and present.
• The Gospels simply say, “They crucified him”—understatement with enormous theological weight.
D. The King on the Cross
• Mockery: “He saved others, he cannot save himself.”
• Irony: his refusal to save himself is what saves others.
• Darkness covers the land—prophetic imagery of cosmic upheaval.
• Jesus prays Psalm 22, lament moving toward trust.
• At his death, the Temple veil tears—access to God opened.
E. Unexpected Witnesses
• A centurion confesses Jesus as Son of God—a Roman outsider sees what insiders miss.
• Women disciples stay faithfully at the cross; they become primary witnesses.
F. Burial in a New Tomb
• Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus give Jesus a royal burial—myrrh, aloes, linen cloths.
• The executed rebel is buried like a king.
• Guards are posted; even opponents confirm Jesus’ influence continues after death.
4. Main Point
• The crucifixion is not failure—it is Jesus’ chosen victory.
• True kingship is revealed in suffering love, not domination.
• Jesus absorbs violence rather than returning it, breaking the cycle from within.
• This “battle to the death” wins by transformation, not force.
5. Exegetical Insight
• Lēstai = rebels/insurrectionists—Rome viewed Jesus as revolutionary, not merely religious.
• Jesus’ cry from Psalm 22 signals lament that ends in trust, not despair.
• The torn veil symbolizes cosmic reconciliation—the boundary between God and humanity removed.
• Burial spices (100+ lbs) echo royal funerary customs in the ancient world.
6. Reflection Questions
• Where do I instinctively choose control over trust?
• How do I respond when mocked, misunderstood, or misjudged?
• Do I see suffering as punishment, or as a place where God transforms?
• What “cross”—what costly obedience—is God inviting me to carry?
7. Action Step / Challenge
• Practice “non-reactive strength”: pause, breathe, and respond with clarity instead of impulse.
• Identify one place where you’re tempted to force an outcome—choose trust instead.
• Meditate on Psalm 22: move from lament to hope as Jesus did.
Buy the books!
This 30-day challenge is based on my book trilogy entitled Jesus: The Strategic Life and Mission of the Messiah and His Movement (3 Volumes, Hekhal Publishing Co., 2025).
You can buy or borrow the trilogy at:
Hekhal Publishing Co. (look for free samples of each book as well)
Amazon (print or ebook)
Barnes & Noble (print or ebook)
Hoopla (borrow)
Many more booksellers worldwide!
