Scripture
Luke 23: 1-49
Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. They
began to accuse him, saying, ‘We found this man perverting our nation,
forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself
is the Messiah, a king.’ Then Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the king of
the Jews?’ He answered, ‘You say so.’ Then Pilate said to the chief
priests and the crowds, ‘I find no basis for an accusation against this
man.’ But they were insistent and said, ‘He stirs up the people by
teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this
place.’ When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a
Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction,
he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.
When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see
him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to
see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus
gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by,
vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with
contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent
him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with
each other; before this they had been enemies.
Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the
people, and said to them, ‘You brought me this man as one who was
perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence
and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him.
Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done
nothing to deserve death. I will therefore have him flogged and release
him.’ Then they all shouted out together, ‘Away with this fellow!
Release Barabbas for us!’ (This was a man who had been put in prison
for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)
Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept
shouting, ‘Crucify, crucify him!’ A third time he said to them, ‘Why,
what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence
of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.’ But
they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be
crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that
their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the
one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he
handed Jesus over as they wished.
As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who
was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made
him carry it behind Jesus. A great number of the people followed him,
and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing
for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do
not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the
days are surely coming when they will say, “Blessed are the barren, and
the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.” Then
they will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us”; and to the
hills, “Cover us.” For if they do this when the wood is green, what
will happen when it is dry?’
Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death
with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they
crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on
his left. Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know
what they are doing.’ And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And
the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying,
‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his
chosen one!’ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him
sour wine, and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save
yourself!’ There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of
the Jews.’ One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him
and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ But the
other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under
the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned
justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man
has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you
come into your kingdom.’ He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will
be with me in Paradise.’
It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land
until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the
curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud
voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Having said
this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken
place, he praised God and said, ‘Certainly this man was innocent.’ And
when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what
had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his
acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee,
stood at a distance, watching these things.
|
