The Crucifixion
Jesus was crucified by nailing his hands and feet to the cross. Two other men, both criminals, were crucified beside him; one on his right and one on his left. The rulers of the Jews and the Roman soldiers mocked Jesus, telling him to save himself if he really was the king of the Jews.
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Crucifixion was a painful method of execution where the person was tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead.
It was first used by the Persians, then Alexander brought it back to Egypt. Soon the Romans became skillful at using it. It dates from about the 6th century BC to the 4th century AD.
In the year 337, Emperor Constantine 1, who was a Christian, abolished it in the Roman Empire.
The thief on the cross
The two criminals on either side of Jesus were very different in their attitudes to their punishment. One of them mocked Jesus, but the other knew he had broken the law and deserved to be punished. He asked Jesus to remember him in his kingdom.
‘Today you will be with me in paradise.’ was Jesus’ reply.
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‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are are doing’, was Jesus’ prayer as he hung on the cross.
Even through his agony, Jesus could see the bigger picture: that his death would be the price he had to pay so that we would not have to be punished for our wrong-doing. He had no sin of his own.
Peter later wrote, ‘He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.’
The Bible says
Luke 23:32-43
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals – one on his right, the other on his left.
Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.’
The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’
There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!’
But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’
Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’
Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.’