The Crucifixion of Jesus
Welcome to the Jesus’ Crucifixion family devotional. This Bible story follows Jesus as He is betrayed by one of His disciples, falsely accused, and then tried for crimes He didn’t commit. After a mock trial, the Roman governor, Pilate, ordered that Jesus be whipped and then put to death by being nailed to a cross (crucified).
Badly beaten, Jesus was forced to carry His cross up a hill called, Golgotha. There, Jesus was put to death and then buried in a tomb. When Jesus died, the earth shook, rocks were split and the veil in the temple was torn in two! Those who witnessed these things were filled with awe and knew that Jesus was truly the Son of God.
From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection ande] went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.