Jesus Dies on the Cross

In the night, soldiers came to the garden. Judas had led them. They took Jesus away. The disciples scattered. Peter followed at a distance and, when asked, said three times he did not know Him.

Jesus was brought before the high priests, and then before Pilate the Roman governor. Pilate found no fault in Him. But the crowd cried, "Crucify Him. Crucify Him." Pilate washed his hands and handed Him over.

The soldiers mocked Him. They pressed a crown of thorns on His head. They made Him carry a heavy wooden cross up a hill called Golgotha, which means The Place of the Skull. There they drove nails through His hands and His feet and lifted Him up on the cross.

Two criminals were crucified beside Him. One mocked Him. The other said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered, "Today you will be with me in paradise." He also prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

At noon the sky grew dark. Darkness covered the land for three hours. Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" He was bearing the weight of the world's sin alone.

Then He said, "It is finished." He bowed His head, and He gave up His spirit. The earth shook. The thick temple curtain tore from top to bottom. A Roman soldier watching said, "Truly this was the Son of God." Friends took His body down and laid it in a tomb. A great stone was rolled across the door. It looked like the end. It was not.