Daily Bread

The Crucifixion of Jesus^(A)

²⁶ As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene,^(B) who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.^{(C) 27} A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed^(D) for him. ²⁸ Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.^{(E) 29} For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’^{(F) 30} Then

³¹ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”^(H)

³² Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.^{(I) 33} When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. ³⁴ Jesus said, “Father,^(J) forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”^[b](K) And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.^(L)

³⁵ The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.^(M) They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”^(N)

³⁶ The soldiers also came up and mocked him.^(O) They offered him wine vinegar^{(P) 37} and said, “If you are the king of the Jews,^(Q) save yourself.”

³⁸ There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.^(R)

³⁹ One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”^(S)

⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”^(T)

⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.^[c]”^(U)

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”^(V)