Jesus Is Killed on a Cross

²⁶The soldiers led Jesus away [to be killed]. At that same time, there was a man coming into the city from the fields. His name was Simon. Simon was from the city of Cyrene. The soldiers forced Simon to carry Jesus' cross and walk behind Jesus. ²⁷Many, many people followed Jesus. Some of the women were sad and crying. They felt sorry for Jesus. ²⁸But Jesus turned and said to the women, "Women of Jerusalem, don't cry for me. Cry for yourselves and for your children too! ²⁹The time is coming when people will say, 'Happy are the women that cannot have babies! Happy are the women that have no children to care for.' ³⁰Then the people will say to the mountain, 'Fall on us!' The people will say to the hills, 'Cover us!'* ³¹If people act like this now when life is good, what will happen when bad times come?*" ³²There were also two criminals led out with Jesus to be killed. ³³Jesus and the two criminals were led to a place called "The Skull." There the soldiers nailed Jesus to his cross. They also nailed the criminals to their crosses. They put one criminal beside Jesus on the right, and they put the other criminal beside Jesus on the left. ³⁴Jesus said, "Father, forgive these people [that are killing me]. They don't know what they are doing.*" The soldiers gambled with dice to decide who would get Jesus' clothes. ³⁵The people stood there watching [Jesus]. The Jewish leaders laughed at Jesus. They said, "If he is God's Chosen One, the Christ,* then let him save himself. He saved other people, didn't he?" ³⁶Even the soldiers laughed at Jesus and teased him. They came to Jesus and offered him some wine. ³⁷The soldiers said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!" ³⁸(At the top of the cross these words were written: "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.") ³⁹One of the criminals began to shout very bad things at Jesus: "Aren't you the Christ*? Then save yourself! And save us too!" ⁴⁰But the other criminal stopped him. He said, "You should fear God! All of us will die soon! ⁴¹You and I are guilty; we should be killed because we did wrong. But this man (Jesus) has done nothing wrong!" ⁴²Then this criminal said to Jesus, "Jesus, remember me when you begin ruling as king!" ⁴³Then Jesus said to him, "Listen! What I say is true: Today you will be with me in Paradise*!"

Jesus Dies

⁴⁴It was about noon, but the whole area became dark until three o'clock in the afternoon. ⁴⁵There was no sun! The curtain in the temple* was torn into two pieces. ⁴⁶Jesus shouted, "Father, I give you my life."* After Jesus said this, he died. ⁴⁷The army officer* there saw what happened. He praised God, saying, "I know this man was a good man!" ⁴⁸Many people had come out of the city to see this thing. When the people saw it, they felt very sorry and left. ⁴⁹The people who were close friends of Jesus were there. Also, there were some women that had followed Jesus from Galilee. They all stood far away from the cross and watched these things.

Joseph of Arimathea

^50-51A man was there from the Jewish town of Arimathea. His name was Joseph. He was a good, religious man. He wanted the kingdom of God to come. Joseph was a member of the Jewish council. But he did not agree when the other Jewish leaders decided to kill Jesus. ⁵²Joseph went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus. [Pilate let Joseph have the body]. ⁵³So Joseph took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in cloth. Then he put Jesus' body in a tomb (grave) that was dug in a wall of rock. This tomb had never been used before. ⁵⁴This was late on Preparation day.* When the sun went down, the Sabbath day* would begin. ⁵⁵The women that had come from Galilee with Jesus followed Joseph. They saw the tomb. Inside they saw where the body of Jesus was put. ⁵⁶Then the women left to prepare some sweet-smelling spices [to put on Jesus' body]. On the Sabbath day* they rested. The law of Moses commanded all people to do this.

the people ... 'Cover us!' Quote from Hos. 10:8 If people act ... come Literally, "If they do these things in the green tree, what will happen in the dry?" Jesus said, "Father ... doing" Some early copies of Luke do not have these words. Christ The "anointed one" (Messiah) or chosen one of God. Paradise Place where good people go when they die. curtain in the temple A curtain divided the "most holy place" from the other part of the temple, the special building in Jerusalem for Jewish worship. I give ... life Literally, "I put my spirit in your hands." Quote from Ps. 31:5. army officer A centurion, a Roman army officer who had authority over 100 soldiers. Preparation day Friday, the day before the Sabbath. Sabbath day The seventh day of the Jewish week. It was a special religious day for the Jews.