The Crucifixion

What happened then is too terrible to describe.

Crucifixion was the lowest form of punishment that the priests and the governor could mete out to any man. It was more disgraceful than any other form of execution. Jesus was made to carry His own heavy wooden cross on His shoulders, through the streets and up the slow incline to the hill called Golgotha. But He was so weak from loss of sleep and from all the terrible things that had been done to Him by the infuriated priests and soldiers, that Jesus stumbled, and could not carry the cross. Seeing this, the soldiers made a passerby help Him.

As the soldiers took Jesus to the little hill of Golgotha, overlooking the city of Jerusalem, a great crowd of people followed after. In that crowd were friends of Jesus who now dared not speak. In that crowd were the Disciples, who though they could not bear to see their Master in this, His last hour, still could not stay away. In that crowd was Mary, the mother of Jesus, bowed down with grief, weeping bitterly, with none daring to offer aid or comfort.

Three crosses were erected on Golgotha that terrible day. On one side was crucified a thief, and on the other side another thief, and between them was Jesus.

As they fastened His weak and weary body to the wooden cross, and raised Him up to leave Him there to suffer until He died, they heard Jesus whisper softly, in one last prayer of mercy:

"Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do."

And at the top of the cross, Pilate had commanded that a sign should be fastened, saying, "This is the King of the Jews." But the priests objected, saying that it should read that He said He was King of the Jews. But Pilate, angered at having had to put to death the Man he thought to be just, would not change it, saying, "What I have written, I have written. It shall stay."

Jesus told them that He was thirsty and they offered him vinegar to drink, mingled with gall and when He tasted it, he turned away from it the terrible taste.

In those awful hours, while Jesus weakened and sank toward death, the heartless soldiers cast lots (a game similar to throwing dice) for His robe. The crowd stood around and watched, and many wept, for they had loved Jesus, yet they were now unable to aid Him. At the foot of the cross sank Mary, the mother of Jesus, in inconsolable grief. And there were some who mocked Jesus, saying:

"If you are really the Son of God, come down from the cross."

"He saved others," some said, "but He cannot save himself."

And one of the thieves gasped out, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom."

"Verily I say unto you," Jesus whispered, today you shall be with me in Paradise" Looking down, Jesus saw His weeping mother, and near her John, His beloved Disciple. "From this day forward, John shall be your son," Jesus said, in great compassion, and to John, "and she shall be your mother." And afterward the Disciple took Mary into his own home, and cared for her as though she was his mother.

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