19. Pilate had a notice prepared. It was fastened to the cross. It read, ~jesus of nazareth, the king of the jews.=
20. Many of the Jews read the sign. The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. The sign was written in the Aramaic, Latin and Greek languages.
21. The chief priests of the Jews argued with Pilate. They said, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews.' Write that this man claimed to be king of the Jews."
22. Pilate answered, "I have written what I have written."
23. When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes. They divided them into four parts. Each soldier got one part. Jesus' long, inner robe was left. It did not have any seams. It was made out of one piece of cloth from top to bottom.
24. "Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's cast lots to see who will get it." This happened so that Scripture would come true. It says, "They divided up my clothes among them. They cast lots for what I was wearing." (Psalm 22:18) So that is what the soldiers did.
25. Jesus' mother stood near his cross. So did his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
26. Jesus saw his mother there. He also saw the disciple he loved standing nearby. Jesus said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son."
27. He said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, the disciple took her into his home.
28. Later Jesus said, "I am thirsty." He knew that everything was now finished. He knew that what Scripture said must come true.
29. A jar of wine vinegar was there. So they soaked a sponge in it. They put the sponge on a stem of the hyssop plant. Then they lifted it up to Jesus' lips.
30. After Jesus drank he said, "It is finished." Then he bowed his head and died.
31. It was Preparation Day. The next day would be a special Sabbath. The Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath. So they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down.
32. The soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus. Then they broke the legs of the other man.
33. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead. So they did not break his legs.
34. Instead, one of the soldiers stuck his spear into Jesus' side. Right away, blood and water flowed out.
35. The man who saw it has given witness. And his witness is true. He knows that he tells the truth. He gives witness so that you also can believe.
36. These things happened in order that Scripture would come true. It says, "Not one of his bones will be broken." (Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalm 34:20)
37. Scripture also says, "They will look to the one they have pierced." (Zechariah 12:10)
38. Later Joseph asked Pilate for Jesus' body. Joseph was from the town of Arimathea. He was a follower of Jesus. But he followed Jesus secretly because he was afraid of the Jews. After Pilate gave him permission, Joseph came and took the body away.