The Crucifixion

Jesus carried his own cross to the place called the Skull, which in Aramaic is named Golgotha (John 19:17). There he was crucified alongside two other men, one on either side. Pontius Pilate prepared a notice and fastened it to the cross, which read 'Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.' Although the chief priests of the Jews protested the phrasing, Pilate refused to change the text he had written (John 19:19-22). The soldiers took Jesus' clothes and divided them into four shares, but because his undergarment was seamless, they cast lots for it to fulfill scripture (John 19:23-24).

Near the cross stood Jesus' mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he told his mother that the disciple was now her son, and told the disciple that Mary was now his mother (John 19:25-27). After this, knowing that everything had been finished, Jesus said he was thirsty. A jar of wine vinegar was present; a sponge was soaked in it, put on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted to his lips (John 19:28-29).

After receiving the drink, Jesus stated, 'It is finished,' bowed his head, and gave up his spirit. Because the next day was a special Sabbath, the Jewish leaders asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken so the bodies could be removed (John 19:31). The soldiers broke the legs of the two men with Jesus, but finding Jesus already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one soldier pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a flow of blood and water (John 19:33-34). These events occurred so that the scriptures stating no bone would be broken and that they would look on the one they pierced would be fulfilled (John 19:36-37).