Chapter 7: Golgotha

They crucified him there, between two criminals, one on his right and one on his left.

The first words Jesus spoke from the cross were not a cry of pain. He looked at the soldiers driving the nails, at the crowd below, at the religious leaders who had engineered the trial.

JESUS“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”— Luke 23:34

He was not asking forgiveness for himself. He was interceding for the people killing him.

Pilate had a wooden board prepared and fastened to the cross directly above Jesus's head. The board read: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews, written in three languages — Aramaic, Latin and Greek.

The chief priests objected and asked Pilate to change the wording. He refused.

PILATE“What I have written, I have written.”— John 19:22

The soldiers divided his garments among themselves and cast lots to decide who would keep his tunic. Psalm 22, written by King David a thousand years before this moment, had described this exact scene. The soldiers gambling at the foot of the cross were fulfilling it without knowing it.

The crowds mocked him. The religious leaders mocked him. One of the criminals crucified beside him hurled insults. The other criminal turned on the first.

CRIMINAL“Don't you fear God? We are getting what we deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong. Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”— Luke 23:40-42

He asked only to be remembered. Jesus answered him.

JESUS“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”— Luke 23:43

Then Jesus looked down and saw his mother Mary standing at the foot of the cross beside John, the disciple he loved. In the middle of his own suffering, he made sure she would be cared for.

JESUS“Woman, here is your son. Here is your mother.”— John 19:26-27

From that moment John took her into his own home.