39
People passing along the road jeered, shaking their heads in mock lament:
40
"You bragged that you could tear down the Temple and then rebuild it in three days - so show us your stuff! Save yourself! If you're really God's Son, come down from that cross!"
41
The high priests, along with the religion scholars and leaders, were right there mixing it up with the rest of them, having a great time poking fun at him:
42
"He saved others - he can't save himself! King of Israel, is he? Then let him get down from that cross. We'll all become believers then!
43
He was so sure of God - well, let him rescue his 'Son' now - if he wants him! He did claim to be God's Son, didn't he?"
44
Even the two criminals crucified next to him joined in the mockery.
45
From noon to three, the whole earth was dark.
46
Around mid-afternoon Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"
47
Some bystanders who heard him said, "He's calling for Elijah."
48
One of them ran and got a sponge soaked in sour wine and lifted it on a stick so he could drink.
49
The others joked, "Don't be in such a hurry. Let's see if Elijah comes and saves him."
50
But Jesus, again crying out loudly, breathed his last.
51
At that moment, the Temple curtain was ripped in two, top to bottom. There was an earthquake, and rocks were split in pieces.
52
What's more, tombs were opened up, and many bodies of believers asleep in their graves were raised.
53
(After Jesus' resurrection, they left the tombs, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.)
54
The captain of the guard and those with him, when they saw the earthquake and everything else that was happening, were scared to death. They said, "This has to be the Son of God!"
55
There were also quite a few women watching from a distance, women who had followed Jesus from Galilee in order to serve him.
56
Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the Zebedee brothers.
57
Late in the afternoon a wealthy man from Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus, arrived. His name was Joseph.
58
He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Pilate granted his request.
59
Joseph took the body and wrapped it in clean linens,