"What's in it for me?".  Although this is the theme-song of global materialism, it is totally opposite to Jesus' attitude at the cross (Philippians 2:4-8).  His execution was no sanitised or anaesthetised death cell experience; that was not how He planned it.  And, yes, Jesus was fully involved with the Father and the Spirit in planning this crucial moment in history (Acts 2:22-24).  To take the sins of the world, He needed to experience all of His Father's wrath against every sin that had ever been, and would be, committed.

The Gethsemane accounts show that Jesus was fully committed to the plan and to His Father's authority, but He was repulsed by the prospect of suffering (Matthew 14:36).  He did not relish the pain of physical beating and wounding, the energy-sapping crucifixion with its final asphyxiation.  The spiritual pain of being the sin-bearer, and therefore separated from Father God who cannot tolerate any sin (Habakkuk 1:13), was intolerable.  The physical suffering was only a part of that wrath-bearing; but it was an essential part (1 Peter 2:24).  To reduce the intensity of pain by alcohol or drugs was no part of that plan.  And so, Jesus refused any chemical comfort.

By contrast, the soldiers gambled for Christ's clothing, as King David prophesied 1000 years earlier (Psalm 22:18).  Care-less, self-centred and spiritually blind worldlings, they only had their own benefit in mind.  They were paid to do it, and would have paid with their lives if they had refused to obey the order.  But also, as with any crucifixion, the personal effects of the condemned man were loot for the executioners.  Perhaps they were sold later, to boost the weekly income.  Some items may have been kept as useful souvenirs.  So, you can see that their mindset was totally opposed to that of Jesus.  Yet it was for them that He died, too!  No wonder Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

The cross remains a marker post that divides people. It separates those who are out for what they can get, from those who honour Jesus who gave everything for them. In turn, such people know they must make the choice to sacrifice what will not honour their Saviour.  The cross is the starting point for being a disciple.  Jesus said, “And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27).  The socially religious middle-road of 'a bit for me and a bit for Jesus' really does not exist!  It is a good check question to ask, ‘Am I looking to Jesus to get what I can out of Him; or am I willing to sacrifice what I have so that He can use me to His glory?’  If you are using Jesus to get what you can, then Jesus is on a different road to you ... it is time to repent and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15-18).