Luke 22:14—23:56
Then the assembly rose as a body and
brought Jesus before Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this
man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and
saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.” Then Pilate asked him, “Are you
the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.” Then Pilate said to the chief
priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” But
they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people by teaching throughout
all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.”
When Pilate heard this, he asked whether
the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod’s
jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that
time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see
him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him
perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus[c] gave him no
answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Even
Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put
an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and
Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.
Pilate then called together the chief
priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this
man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your
presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him.
Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to
deserve death. I will therefore have him flogged and release him.”
Then they all shouted out together, “Away
with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!” (This was a man who had been put in
prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) Pilate,
wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept shouting,
“Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he
done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore
have him flogged and then release him.” But they kept urgently demanding with
loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate
gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they
asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and
he handed Jesus over as they wished.
As they led him away, they seized a man,
Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on
him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. A great number of the people followed
him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for
him. But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep
for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely
coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never
bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ Then they will begin to say to the
mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do this when
the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Two others also, who were criminals, were
led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is
called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his
right and one on his left. Then Jesus
said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And
they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but
the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if
he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming
up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews,
save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him,“This is the King of the
Jews.”
One of the criminals who were hanged there
kept deriding[i] him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and
us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are
under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned
justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done
nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into[k] your
kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in
Paradise.”
It was now about noon, and darkness came
over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed;
and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud
voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this,
he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised
God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” And when all the crowds who
had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home,
beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had
followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Reflection
What should I do for Jesus in his passion?
What will be my hope in Jesus’ passion?