The Crucifixion of Jesus

²¹ They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.²²Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull).²³And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it.²⁴And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take. ²⁵ It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him.²⁶The inscription of the charge against him read, ‘The King of the Jews.’²⁷And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left. ²⁹Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days,³⁰save yourself, and come down from the cross!’³¹In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, ‘He saved others; he cannot save himself.³²Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.’ Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.

The Death of Jesus

³³ When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.³⁴At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ ³⁵When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, ‘Listen, he is calling for Elijah.’³⁶And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, ‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.’³⁷Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.³⁸And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.³⁹Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was God’s Son!’

Psalm 22

Plea for Deliverance from Suffering and Hostility

To the leader: according to The Deer of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.¹ My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?   Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?² O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;   and by night, but find no rest. ³ Yet you are holy,   enthroned on the praises of Israel.⁴ In you our ancestors trusted;   they trusted, and you delivered them.⁵ To you they cried, and were saved;   in you they trusted, and were not put to shame. ⁶ But I am a worm, and not human;   scorned by others, and despised by the people.⁷ All who see me mock at me;   they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;⁸ ‘Commit your cause to the ^Lord; let him deliver—   let him rescue the one in whom he delights!’ ⁹ Yet it was you who took me from the womb;   you kept me safe on my mother’s breast.¹⁰ On you I was cast from my birth,   and since my mother bore me you have been my God.¹¹ Do not be far from me,   for trouble is near   and there is no one to help.