26. There was a sign with the charge against Jesus written on it. The sign read: “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
27. They also put two robbers on crosses beside Jesus, one on the right, and the other on the left.
28. [And the Scripture came true that says, “They put him with criminals.”]
29. People walked by and insulted Jesus. They shook their heads, saying, “You said you could destroy the Temple and build it again in three days.
30. So save yourself! Come down from that cross!”
31. The leading priests and the teachers of the law were also there. They made fun of Jesus just as the other people did. They said among themselves, “He saved other people, but he can’t save himself.
32. If he is really the Christ, the king of Israel, then let him come down from the cross now. We will see this, and then we will believe in him.” The robbers who were being killed on the crosses beside Jesus also insulted him.
33. At noon the whole country became dark. This darkness lasted for three hours.
34. At three o’clock Jesus cried in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani.” This means, “My God, my God, why have you left me alone?”
35. Some of the people standing there heard this. They said, “Listen! He is calling Elijah.”
36. One man there ran and got a sponge. He filled the sponge with vinegar and tied it to a stick. Then he used the stick to give the sponge to Jesus to drink from it. The man said, “We should wait now and see if Elijah will come to take him down from the cross.”
37. Then Jesus cried in a loud voice and died.
38. When Jesus died, the curtain in the Temple split into two pieces. The tear started at the top and tore all the way to the bottom.
39. The army officer that was standing there before the cross saw what happened when Jesus died. The officer said, “This man really was the Son of God!”
40. Some women were standing at a distance from the cross, watching. Some of these women were Mary Magdalene, Salome, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph. (James was her youngest son.)
41. These were the women who followed Jesus in Galilee and cared for him. Many other women were also there who had come with Jesus to Jerusalem.
42. This was Preparation Day. (That means the day before the Sabbath day.) It was becoming dark.
43. A man named Joseph from Arimathea was brave enough to go to Pilate and ask for Jesus’ body. Joseph was an important member of the Jewish council. He was one of the people who wanted the kingdom of God to come.