Jesus’ crucifixion was not just 'another day in the life of a Roman executioner'.  It would have far-reaching consequences.  In the same way in which Simon of Cyrene found himself a surprised participant in the execution procession, the cross of Christ would make its mark on billions throughout history.  As Jesus climbed the hill, women wailed their immediate grief as at a funeral; but He stopped briefly to tell them that the cross was not just for that day.
 

In the same way that the deadliest lies contain enough truth to make them credible, so the vilest mockery throws accurate information into the face of the enemy.  That was how Jewish rulers and Gentile soldiers treated Jesus.  He had become a public exhibition as He hung on the cross: observed by all, mourned by some, but mostly ridiculed.  Their words were full of derision.  However, what they said about Him was true: He was indeed the Christ of God (Messiah), the long prophesied 'Chosen One' (Isaiah 42:1), the King of the Jews, and the Saviour of the world.
 

Human minds love to ask 'how?'   That question, when answered, helps us to understand the mechanism of an event and makes us feel that everything is under control.  When Jesus died on the cross, Luke, the physician, does not try to explain how everything happened.  He simply describes the eye-witness accounts factually and briefly (Luke 1:1-4).
 

The death of Jesus stunned those left around the cross at the end.  What were the crowd to do now?  All hope had gone.  There was no point staying there, so they went back into the city.  But before leaving, they beat their breasts.  Culturally, death was greeted with loud wailing which expressed the personal loss of the loved one. But 'beating the breast' was more than that; it was a public loud sign of hopelessness, dismay, and remorse (Nahum 2:7).  Their only hope was dead, and the future had nothing to offer.  They had failed Jesus and regret was not enough.