The soldiers led Jesus into the governor’s headquarters and called together the whole company. They dressed him in purple and twisted thorns into a crown for his head. Hailing him as king of the Jews, they struck his head with a staff, spat on him, and knelt in mock homage.
When the mockery ended, the soldiers removed the purple robe and put Jesus’ own clothes back on him. They led him outside to crucify him. Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country. The soldiers forced Simon to carry Jesus’ cross.
They brought Jesus to Golgotha, a name meaning Place of the Skull. They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. After crucifying him, they divided his clothes by casting lots to decide what each soldier would receive. It was nine in the morning.
A written charge above Jesus identified him as the king of the Jews. Two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Passersby shook their heads and mocked him. They told the one who had spoken of destroying and rebuilding the temple to come down from the cross and save himself.
The chief priests and teachers of the law also mocked him among themselves. They said he had saved others but could not save himself. If the Messiah, the king of Israel, came down from the cross, they said, they would see and believe. Even those crucified beside him insulted him.
At noon darkness covered the whole land and lasted until three in the afternoon. Then Jesus cried out loudly, asking why God had forsaken him. Some nearby thought he was calling Elijah. One person soaked a sponge in sour wine, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus while saying they should see whether Elijah came to take him down.
Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple tore in two from top to bottom. The centurion standing opposite Jesus saw how he died and declared that this man truly was God’s Son.
Women watched from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and Joses, and Salome. They had followed Jesus and cared for him in Galilee. Many other women who had traveled with him to Jerusalem were also there.
Evening approached on the day of preparation before the Sabbath. Joseph of Arimathea, a respected council member who was waiting for God’s kingdom, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised that Jesus had already died and summoned the centurion to confirm it. After receiving the report, he released the body to Joseph.
Joseph bought linen, took Jesus down from the cross, and wrapped the body. He placed it in a tomb cut from rock and rolled a stone across its entrance. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses watched the place where Jesus was laid.