Luke 23:26-56

As they led Him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him to carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed Him, including women who mourned and lamented Him. Jesus turned to them, saying, “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. Listen, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, who never bore and never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” Two different men, who were criminals, also were led with Him to be killed. When they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they divided His clothes by casting lots. The people stood by watching. But the rulers with them scoffed, saying, “He saved others. Let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the Chosen One of God.” And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him and offering Him sour wine, saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” An inscription was written over Him in letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew: One of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, seeing you are under the same sentence? And we indeed, justly. For we are receiving the due reward of our deeds. But this Man has done nothing amiss.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour, while the sun was darkened. And the veil of the temple was torn in the middle. And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He gave up the spirit. When the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God and said, “Certainly, this was a righteous Man.” All the crowds who came together to that sight, witnessing what occurred, struck their chests and ­returned. But all those who knew Him and the women accompanying Him from Galilee stood at a distance, seeing these things. Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, who was a good and just man. He had not consented to their counsel and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, and he himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took Him down, and wrapped Him in linen, and placed Him in a hewn tomb, where no one had ever been buried. It was the Day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near. The women who came with Him from Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was placed. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.