Matthew 27:32-50

On the way they found a man named Simon. He was from the city of Cyrene. The soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). They gave him a drink of wine mixed with a drug called gall. When he tasted it, he refused to drink it. After they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice. Then they sat there and kept watch over him. They placed a written accusation above his head. It read, “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.” At that time they crucified two criminals with him, one on his right and the other on his left. Those who passed by insulted him. They shook their heads and said, “You were going to tear down God’s temple and build it again in three days. Save yourself! If you’re the Son of God, come down from the cross.” The chief priests together with the experts in Moses’ Teachings and the leaders made fun of him in the same way. They said, “He saved others, but he can’t save himself. So he’s Israel’s king! Let him come down from the cross now, and we’ll believe him. He trusted God. Let God rescue him now if he wants. After all, this man said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” Even the criminals crucified with him were insulting him the same way. At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. About three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” When some of the people standing there heard him say that, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” One of the men ran at once, took a sponge, and soaked it in some vinegar. Then he put it on a stick and offered Jesus a drink. The others said, “Leave him alone! Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” Then Jesus loudly cried out once again and gave up his life.