Good Friday


Pontius Pilate washed his hands in a bowl of water, for all to see, and said, "I am innocent of the blood of this just person." And the crowd answered, "His blood be on us and on our children." But Pilate was not able to wash away the guilt he felt for sentencing Jesus to death. The soldiers taunted and beat Jesus repeatedly, and made Him carry a heavy wooden cross on His back, while the angry mob struck Him and spat upon Him. But amid this cruelty and torture, there were also good people who loved Jesus, and they followed and wept; and among them was Mary, the mother of Jesus.

When Jesus fell and could no longer bear His cross, a man named Simon took the cross and carried it for Him until they came to a place called Golgotha, which in the Hebrew language means *a place of a skull*. The soldiers tore the purple robe from Jesus and crucified Him, nailing His hands and His feet to the wooden cross, and then they stood the cross upright to display Him for all who chose to see. While Jesus suffered, the soldiers gambled at the foot of His cross, each trying to win His robe for a trophy. And Jesus spoke, saying, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

There were also two thieves being crucified with Jesus. One of the thieves taunted Jesus, and said, "If thou be Christ, save thyself and us." But the second thief believed in Jesus, and said to Him, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." Jesus replied, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise."



Jesus was very thirsty, but the soldiers gave Him vinegar instead of water, still mocking Him. Then Jesus said, "It is finished. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit."

Jesus bowed His head and died. The sky was dark and the earth shook, and the veil of the temple was torn in two by unseen hands. And a soldier, witnessing His death, said "Truly this man was the Son of God".