36. The soldiers also came up and poked fun at him. They offered him wine vinegar.
37. They said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."
38. A written sign had been placed above him. It read, ~this is the king of the jews.=
39. One of the criminals hanging there made fun of Jesus. He said, "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself! Save us!"
40. But the other criminal scolded him. "Don't you have any respect for God?" he said. "Remember, you are under the same sentence of death.
41. We are being punished fairly. We are getting just what our actions call for. But this man hasn't done anything wrong."
42. Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
43. Jesus answered him, "What I'm about to tell you is true. Today you will be with me in paradise."
44. It was now about noon. The whole land was covered with darkness until three o'clock.
45. The sun had stopped shining. The temple curtain was torn in two.
46. Jesus called out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my very life." After he said this, he took his last breath.
47. The Roman commander saw what had happened. He praised God and said, "Jesus was surely a man who did what was right."
48. The people had gathered to watch that sight. When they saw what happened, they beat their chests and went away.
49. But all those who knew Jesus stood not very far away, watching those things. They included the women who had followed him from Galilee.
50. A man named Joseph was a member of the Jewish Council. He was a good and honest man.
51. He had not agreed with what the leaders had decided and done. He was from Arimathea, a town in Judea. He was waiting for God's kingdom.
52. Joseph went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body.
53. He took it down and wrapped it in linen cloth. Then he put it in a tomb cut in the rock. No one had ever been buried there.
54. It was Preparation Day. The Sabbath was about to begin.