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THE EASTER
STORY
The Crucifixion Now, it was Pilate's custom to release one Jewish prisoner each year at Passover time -- any prisoner the people requested. "How about giving you the 'King of Jews'?" Pilate asked. "Is he the one you want released?" (For he realized by now that this was a frame-up, backed by the chief priests because they envied Jesus' popularity.) But at this point the chief priests whipped up the mob to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. Then Pilate, afraid of a riot and anxious to please the people, released Barabbas to them. And he ordered Jesus flogged with a leaded whip, and handed him over to be crucified. When the soldiers finally grew tired of mocking him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him again, and led him away to be crucified. Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country just then, was pressed into service to carry Jesus' cross. And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha. (Golgotha means skull.) Wine drugged with bitter herbs was offered to him there, but he refused it. And then they crucified him -- and threw dice for his clothes. It was about nine o'clock in the morning when the crucifixion took place. A signboard was fastened to the cross above his head, announcing his crime. It read, "The King of the Jews." Two robbers were also crucified that morning, their crosses on either side of his. And so the Scripture was fulfilled that said, "He was counted among evil men." About noon, darkness fell across the entire land, lasting until three o'clock that afternoon. Then Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" ("My God, my God, why have you deserted me?") Some of the people standing there thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. So one man ran and got a sponge and filled it with sour wine and held it up to him on a stick. "Let's see if Elijah will come and take him down!" he said. Then Jesus uttered another loud cry, and dismissed his spirit. And the curtain in the Temple was split apart from top to bottom. When the Roman officer standing beside his cross saw how he dismissed his spirit, he exclaimed, "Truly, this was the Son of God!" Mark 15:6, 9-11, 15, 20-28,
33-39 illustration by Richard Hook 1=Triumphal Entry...2=The
Last Supper...3=Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet...
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