Holy Bible Online 
Jesus was crucified and killed around the year 33 A.D., after being betrayed by Judas Iscariot and handed over to the chief priests. Accused of blasphemy, he was brought before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, who, pressured by the crowd, ordered his crucifixion. Before being nailed to the cross, Jesus suffered brutal tortures, was beaten, scourged, and mocked with a crown of thorns.
Then, they led him to Golgotha, or the Place of the Skull, where he was crucified between two criminals. Jesus remained on the cross for six hours, enduring intense pain, mockery, and extreme dehydration. Still, he demonstrated love and forgiveness, interceding for his torturers and granting salvation to one of the thieves crucified beside him.
At the moment of his death, powerful supernatural signs occurred: there was a great earthquake, the temple veil was torn, the earth became dark, and many dead people were resurrected.
In the midst of this striking scene, everyone realized that Jesus was not an ordinary human being. The Roman centurion who oversaw the execution acknowledged that Jesus was truly the Son of God. He was God incarnate, sent to save and redeem humanity. His death was part of that divine purpose.
But that was not the end of the story! Three days later, Jesus resurrected, defeating death and guaranteeing eternal life to all who believe in him.
The Suffering of Jesus Before Going to the Cross
The night before His crucifixion, Jesus was arrested and interrogated by the high priest Caiaphas, who accused Him of blasphemy. The religious leaders decided to hand Him over to Pilate, the Roman governor, seeking the death sentence.
Pilate, upon questioning Jesus, found no fault in Him. But, pressured by the crowd and the priests, he gave in and ordered that Jesus be scourged and crucified.
Jesus suffered great humiliations before being crucified. He was:
- Cruelly scourged by Roman soldiers
- Ridiculed with a crown of thorns and a purple robe
- Spat on, struck, and mocked publicly
After this intense torture, He was forced to carry His cross to Golgotha to face His execution.
The 6 Hours of Jesus on the Cross
1. The Crucifixion (9 AM)
The Bible tells us the time at which Jesus was crucified: 9:00 AM, or the third hour. After a night of torture and mistreatment, Jesus' body was severely wounded. He had little physical strength left, but He would still have to face the hardest trial: His crucifixion.
For the soldiers in charge of the crucifixion, it was just another day at work. They decided to divide Jesus' clothing among themselves. First, they took His robe and split it into four pieces, one for each soldier. However, Jesus' tunic was made of one piece of cloth, and they didn't want to tear it. So, they cast lots. This was the fulfillment of the prophecy given in Psalm 22:18.
The crowd and religious leaders mocked Him, challenging Him to come down from the cross if He was truly the Son of God.
33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals - one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
- Luke 23:33-34
Even in the midst of so much suffering, Jesus chose to forgive those who crucified Him.
2. Jesus and the Two Thieves
Jesus was crucified alongside two criminals, one on His right and the other on His left. One of them mocked Jesus, but the other recognized His innocence and said to Jesus:
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
- Luke 23:42
At that moment, Jesus assured him of salvation:
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
- Luke 23:43
3. Darkness over the Earth (12:00 PM)
Wonderful and inexplicable things happened during the hours Jesus was on the cross. One of them was a period of darkness, about three hours of darkness over the earth.
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
- Luke 23:44-45
4. Jesus' Final Cry (3:00 PM)
Around 3:00 PM (the ninth hour), Jesus raised His voice in a loud cry and called out to the Father with all His being.
“Eli, Eli,lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)
- Matthew 27:46
Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”When he had said this, he breathed his last.
- Luke 23:46
With that cry, He committed His spirit to the Father and died.
The Gospel of John explains that Jesus knew His mission on earth was complete. His work was coming to an end, and with His last words, He made it clear that everything had happened according to the Father's will.
The supernatural signs during the death of Jesus
At the moment Jesus died, astonishing supernatural events took place:
- The veil of the temple was torn in two, indicating direct access to God (Matthew 27:51)
- A great earthquake shook the earth and split the rocks (Matthew 27:51-54)
- The tombs were opened, and many dead were resurrected (Matthew 27:52-53)
- The Roman centurion recognized that Jesus was the Son of God (Mark 15:39)
The meaning of the death of Jesus for us
The death of Jesus was not an accident, but the divine plan for the redemption of humanity.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
- John 3:16
The sacrifice of Jesus guarantees us:
- The forgiveness of sins
- Reconciliation with God
- Direct access to the Father
- The promise of eternal life
And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
- Hebrews 10:10
We can read the story of the crucifixion and death of Jesus in Matthew 27:32-56, Mark 15:25-41, Luke 23:33-49, and John 19:18-37.
Jesus rose!
But Jesus did not stay dead. Just as it had been prophesied (Psalm 16:10; Matthew 16:21), Jesus rose! Death could not hold Him; it did not defeat Him. And it is because of Jesus' victory over death that we, those who believe in Him, will also enjoy eternal life with Him.
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
1 Corinthians 15:20-22
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