The Crucifixion and Burial of Jesus Christ

(From The Gospels in Unison edited by Dr Jeffrey Khoo)

Crucifixion
First Three Hours
Matthew 27:35-44, Mark 15:24-32,
Luke 23:33-43, John 19:18-27

And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left, and Jesus in the midst. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. And sitting down they watched him there; and set up over his head his accusation. And Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was, THIS IS JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.

And the people stood beholding. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said among themselves, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, the Christ, the chosen of God, let him now come down from the cross, that we may see, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, and saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth (reviled him).

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his  mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Second Three Hours
Mark 15:33-37, Matthew 27:45-50,
Luke 23:44-46, John 19:28-30

And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi (Eli, Eli), lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed (hyssop), and put it to his mouth, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. And when Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, [and] had cried with a loud voice, he said, It is finished: Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Immediately after His Death
Matthew 27:51-56, Mark 15:38-41,
Luke 23:45, 47-49

And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain, in the midst, from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, which stood over against him, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. [And] the centurion glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. And all his acquaintance, and many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee unto Jerusalem, ministering unto him: among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and Joses, and Salome the mother of Zebedee’s children.

 

Burial
John 19:31-42, Matthew 27:57-61,
Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:50-56

The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced. And after this, when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, there came a rich man, named Joseph, an honourable counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: (the same had not consented to the counsel and deed  of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews; this man went boldly unto [and] besought (begged) Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.

And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave him (Joseph) leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, The Garden of Gethsemane, Jerusalem “. . . not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42) which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in fine linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid [for it was Joseph’s] own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock. There laid they Jesus therefore, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

And the women also, [namely] Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary (the mother of Joses), which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Saturday
Guarding of the Tomb
Matthew 27:62-66

Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.