The True Story of Jesus — Page 56
as 56 a slow process which sometimes took three or four days. It was also a practice that the soldiers would break the leg bones of the victims to ensure their death. The cross was put up on the hill of Golgotha, outside the city wall of Jerusalem. A crowd had gathered there to witness the scene. Mary, the mother of Jesus as, some disciples, and well-wishers of Jesus as were also present. People, passing by, shook their heads and hurled insults at Jesus as. 1 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the Law and the elders jeered at him: ‘He saved others but he cannot save himself ! Isn’t he the king of Israel? If he comes down off the cross now, we will believe in him!’2 Even the bandits who had been crucified with him insulted him in the same way. 3 Jesus as prayed to God and said, ‘Forgive them, Father! They don’t know what they are doing. ’4 As related in the Bible, soon after Jesus as was put on the cross, the whole country was covered with darkness which lasted for three hours. After remaining for a few hours on the cross Jesus as cried in anguish, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? which means, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?’5 Then he said ‘I thirst. ’ A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth. 6 Soon after his head drooped and he seemed to have gone 1. Matthew 27:39 2. Matthew 27:41-42 3. Matthew 27:44 4. Luke 23:34 5. Matthew 27:46 6. John 19:28, 29