The Crucifixion of Jesus
After Jesus was captured in the Garden of Eden, he was put on trial and unjustly found guilty by Pontius Pilate of sedition; they said that he claimed to be the king of the Jews, and he was sentenced to death that day by crucifixion.
But first, he was tortured most brutally by the Roman soldiers. Then they made a crown of thorns and put it on his head. He had to carry a heavy cross to a place outside of the city. Many in the crowds wept for him, but many others mocked him; Jesus never complained though.
When he got to the place called Calvary, a hill, he was nailed to a cross which was then lifted in the air and planted in the ground for everyone to see his final humiliation. Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.
Two criminals were also crucified and planted in the ground on either side of him. One of the criminals called out to Jesus if you can save others, why not save yourself and us now? The other criminal rebuked him and said, we are guilty of the crimes tried for, but this man did nothing wrong. Then he asked Jesus if he would remember him in his Kingdom, to which Jesus replied; today you will be with me in paradise.
Jesus hung on the cross for six long hours while people waited and watched below; they included his mother, Mary, and John, one of his disciples
At midday, the skies darkened, and at 3pm, Jesus took his last breath and said, Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. Then he ceased to be, and a ferocious storm erupted in the skies, splitting the curtain in the temple from top to bottom, and the earth shook and rocks split.
The centurion and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
A soldier put a sword into Jesus’ side and proclaimed him dead. Jesus’ body was then taken from the cross and put in a tomb carved into a hillside. A large rock secured the body within the tomb.
In the Old Testament, God promised to send a specially anointed person, the Messiah, who would sacrifice himself to save the people from their sins and give them eternal life – Christians believe Jesus was that person.
Isaiah 53:3-7 NRSV
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
and by his bruises we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have all turned to our own way,
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
