27
A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women.
28
But Jesus turned and said to them, âDaughters of Jerusalem, donât weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
29
For the days are coming when they will say, âFortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.â
30
People will beg the mountains, âFall on us,â and plead with the hills, âBury us.â
31
For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry? â
32
Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him.
33
When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucifiedâone on his right and one on his left.
34
Jesus said, âFather, forgive them, for they donât know what they are doing.â And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
35
The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. âHe saved others,â they said, âlet him save himself if he is really Godâs Messiah, the Chosen One.â
36
The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine.
37
They called out to him, âIf you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!â
38
A sign was fastened above him with these words: âThis is the King of the Jews.â
39
One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, âSo youâre the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourselfâand us, too, while youâre at it!â
40
But the other criminal protested, âDonât you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die?
41
We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasnât done anything wrong.â
42
Then he said, âJesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.â
43
And Jesus replied, âI assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.â
44
By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three oâclock.
45
The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle.
46
Then Jesus shouted, âFather, I entrust my spirit into your hands!â And with those words he breathed his last.
47
When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, âSurely this man was innocent. â
48
And when all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow.