Purpose of Guarding the Treasure

The purpose of this blog is to encourage readers to invest their time into the Word of God and "Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you." Paul wrote these words to Timothy (2 Timothy 1:14) in his presumed last letter before his execution. May we be those who see the word of God as a treasure, guarding it with our lives, investing in it with our hearts and minds, and reaping the fruit of an abundant life while getting to know the God who loves us and created us for His marvelous pleasure and glory.

Friday, April 6, 2012

The Passion of the Christ

Below is a harmonized version of the four gospel accounts (Matthew/Mark/Luke/John) of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane

(26:36-46, 14:32-42, 22:39-46, 18:1) ¶ And then when Jesus had spoken these words, He Jesus came out/went forth and proceeded with His disciples as was His custom to the Mount of Olives over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden; and they the disciples also followed Him. And when He Himself arrived/entered with them His disciples to/at the place called/named Gethsemane, and He said to them His disciples, "Sit here while/until I go over there and have prayed. Pray that you may not enter into temptation." And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, James and John, and began to be grieved and very distressed and troubled. And then He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me." And He withdrew and He went a little beyond from them about a stone's throw, and fell on His face to the ground and He knelt down and began to prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by, and He was saying, " Abba! My Father! All things are possible for Thee; if it is possible, Thou art willing, let/remove this cup pass from Me; yet not as I/My will, but as what Thou/Thine wilt be done." Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. And when He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, and said to them Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Why are you sleeping? So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Rise and keep watching and praying, that you may not enter/come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." And He went away again a second time and prayed, saying the same words, "My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Thy will be done." And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. And then He came to the disciples the third time, and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; behold, the hour is at hand/has come and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Arise, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!"

Betrayal of Jesus by His Disciples

(26:47-56, 14:43-52, 22:47-53, 18:2-11) Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place; for Jesus had often met there with His disciples. Judas then, having received the Roman cohort, and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. And immediately while He was still speaking, behold, the one called Judas, one of the twelve, came up, accompanied by/preceding them a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the people. Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth, and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" They answered Him, "Jesus the Nazarene." He said to them, "I am He." And Judas also who was betraying Him, was standing with them. When therefore He said to them, "I am He," they drew back, and fell to the ground. Again therefore He asked them, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus the Nazarene." Jesus answered, "I told you that I am He; if therefore you seek Me, let these go their way," that the word might be fulfilled which He spoke, "Of those whom Thou hast given Me I lost not one." Now he who was betraying Him gave them a signal, saying, "Whomever I shall kiss, He is the one; seize Him, and lead Him away under guard." And after coming immediately he went to/approached Him Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" And he said, saying, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. And Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you have come for." And then they came and laid hands on Him Jesus and seized Him. And when those who were around Him saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" And but behold, therefore a certain one of them those who were with Jesus who stood by Simon Peter having a sword, reached and drew it out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his right ear; and the slave's name was Malchus. Then Jesus therefore said to him Peter, "Put your/the sword back into its place the sheath; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. The cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it? Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen this way?" But Jesus answered and said, "Stop! No more of this." And He touched his ear and healed him. At that time Jesus answered and said to them the multitudes the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as against a robber? Every day while I was with you daily I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize/lay hands on Me. But all this has taken place/happened that the Scriptures of the prophets may/might be fulfilled. This hour and the power of darkness are yours." And then they all the disciples left Him and fled. And a certain young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized him. But he left the linen sheet behind, and escaped naked.

Jesus before Annas (1st Jewish Trial)

(18:12-24) So the Roman cohort and the commander, and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him, and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people. The high priest therefore questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; behold, these know what I said." And when He had said this, one of the officers standing by gave Jesus a blow, saying, "Is that the way You answer the high priest?" Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?" Annas therefore sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Jesus before Caiaphas (2nd Jewish Trial)

(26:57-68, 14:53-65, 22:54-65, 18:15-16,18) And having arrested Him, those who had seized Jesus they led Him Jesus away, and brought Him to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, where all the chief priests and the scribes and the elders were gathered together. And but Simon Peter also was following/had followed Him Jesus at a distance, and so was another disciple, right into as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought in Peter. And now after they were standing there, having had kindled/made a charcoal fire in the middle of the courtyard, and he Peter had sat down/was sitting together among them also with the slaves and the officers to see the outcome and standing and warming himself/themselves at the fire for it was cold. Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, in order that they might put Him to death; and they did/were not finding any, even though many false witnesses came forward, for many were giving false testimony against Him, and yet their testimony was not consistent. But later on two came forward, and some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, and said, saying, "This man stated, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.' We heard Him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.'" And not even in this respect was their testimony consistent. And the high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, and said to Him, saying, "Do You make no answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?" But He Jesus kept silent, and made no answer. And again the high priest was questioning Him, and said to Him, saying, "I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God. Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" And Jesus said to him, "I am; you have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on with the clouds of heaven." And then the high priest tore/tearing his robes/clothes, saying/said, "He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy. How does it seem to you? What do you think?" They all condemned Him to be deserving of death and answered and said, "He is deserving of death!" And then some they the men who were holding Jesus in custody began to spit/spat at Him in His face, and to blindfold Him, and to beating Him with their fists, and to say to Him, mocking Him, and were asking Him, saying, "Prophesy! Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?" And others the officers received Him with slaps/slapped Him in the face. And they were saying many other things against Him, blaspheming.

Peter Denies Jesus

(26:69-75, 14:66-72, 22:56-62, 18:17,25-27) And now therefore as Peter was below sitting outside in the courtyard, and a certain one of the servant-girls of the high priest who kept the door came to him and seeing him Peter as he sat in the firelight, warming himself, she looked at him, looking intently at him, and said to Peter, " You are not also one of this man's disciples, are you? You, too, were with Jesus the Nazarene Galilean. This man was with Him too." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I am not. I do not/neither know nor understand what you are talking about. Woman, I do not know Him." And he went out onto the porch. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. And a little later, when he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl the maid saw him and began once more to say/said to those the bystanders who were there, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth. You are one of them too! This is one of them!" They said therefore to him, "You are not also one of His disciples, are you?" And but again he Peter denied/was denying it with an oath, "Man, I am not! I do not know the man." And after a little while later after about an hour had passed, the bystanders came up and another man again said/were saying and began to insist to Peter, "Surely you too are one of them; for the way you talk gives you away. Certainly this man also was with Him, for he/you is/are a Galilean too." One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?" But then he Peter therefore began to curse and swear and denied it again, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about. I do not know the man! I do not know this man you are talking about!" And immediately, while he was still speaking, a cock crowed a second time. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word/remark of the Lord which/how He Jesus had said/ told/made to him, "Before a cock crows twice today, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and began to weep/wept bitterly.

Jesus Before the Council of Elders/Sanhedrin (3rd Jewish Trial)

(27:1, 15:1a, 22:66-71, 18:28) They led Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium in order that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. And now early when/in the morning had come, when it was day, the whole Council of elders of the people assembled, with both all the chief priests and scribes, and immediately took/held a counsel/consultation against Jesus to put Him to death; and they led Him away to their council chamber, saying, "If You are the Christ, tell us." But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I ask a question, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." And they all said, "Are You the Son of God, then?" And He said to them, "Yes, I am." And they said, "What further need do we have of testimony? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth."

Pilate Before Jesus (1st Roman Trial)

(27:2-14, 15:1b-5, 23:1-7, 18:29-38) And then they the whole body of them arose bound/binding Him Jesus, and they led Him away, and delivered/brought Him up to before Pilate the governor. Pilate therefore went out to them, and said, "What accusation do you bring against this Man?" And they answered and began to accuse Him, saying/said to him, "If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you. We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King." Pilate therefore said to them, "Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law." The Jews said to him, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death," that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die. Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." But they said, "What is that to us? See to that yourself!" And he threw the pieces of silver into the sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury, since it is the price of blood." And they counseled together and with the money bought the Potter's Field as a burial place for strangers. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one whose price had been set by the sons of Israel; and they gave them for the Potter's Field, as the Lord directed me." Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus. Now Jesus stood before the governor Pilate, and the governor questioned/asked/ said to Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?" Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You up to me; what have You done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm." Pilate therefore said to Him, "So You are a king?" And answering He Jesus answered him and said to him, "It is as you say. You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And while He was being/began harshly to accused Him by the chief priests and elders, He made no answer. And then Pilate was questioning Him again, said to Him, saying, "Do You make no answer? Do You not hear/see how many things/charges they testify/bring against You?" And but He Jesus did not answer him with regard to even a single charge and made no further answer, so that the governor Pilate was quite amazed. And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and Pilate said to them the chief priests and the multitudes, "I find no guilt in Him this man." But they kept on insisting, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, starting from Galilee, even as far as this place." But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time.

Jesus Before Herod (2nd Roman Trial)

(23:8-12) Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been at enmity with each other.

Jesus Before Pilate Again (3rd Roman Trial)

(27:15-23, 15:6-14, 23:13-23, 18:39-40) And Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him. No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. I will therefore punish Him and release Him." Now at the feast he the governor was accustomed/used/obliged to release for/to them the multitude any one prisoner whom they wanted/requested. And they were holding at that time a notorious prisoner, called/named Barabbas. And now he the man was a robber one who had been thrown into imprisoned with the insurrectionists for who had committed murder in the/a certain insurrection made in the city And the multitude went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them. When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said/answered to them, saying, "But you have a custom, that I should release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews? Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ? Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?" For he knew/was aware that because of envy they the chief priests had delivered Him up. And while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him." But the chief priests and the elders persuaded/stirred up the multitudes to ask him to release for them Barabbas instead, and to put Jesus to death. But the governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." Therefore but they cried out all together again, saying, "Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas! Not this Man, but Barabbas." And answering again, Pilate said/was saying to them, "Then what shall I do with Him Jesus who is called Christ whom you call the King of the Jews?" And they all said/shouted back, "Crucify Him! Let Him be crucified!" And but Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, and he said/was saying to them, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they kept on shouting/shouted/calling out all the more, saying, " Crucify, crucify Him! Let Him be crucified!" And he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death; I will therefore punish Him and release Him." But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail.

Jesus Scourged in the Praetorium

(27:27-30, 15:16-19, 19:1-3) Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged Him. And then the soldiers of the governor took Him Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium), and they called and gathered together the whole Roman cohort around Him. And they stripped Him, and they put/dressed/arrayed Him up in a scarlet purple robe on Him. And after weaving/wove a crown of thorns, they the soldiers put it on Him His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they began to come up to Him, and they kneeled down before Him and mocked Him, and they began to acclaim Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and to give Him blows in the face. And they spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. And they kept beating His head, and spitting at Him, and kneeling and bowing before Him.

Jesus before the Crowd

(19:4-8) And Pilate came out again, and said to them, "Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no guilt in Him." Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, "Behold, the Man!" When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, "Crucify, crucify!" Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves, and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God." When Pilate therefore heard this statement, he was the more afraid;

Pilate Questions Jesus

(19:9-11) And he entered into the Praetorium again, and said to Jesus, "Where are You from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to Him, "You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?" Jesus answered, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me up to you has the greater sin."

Pilate Delivers Jesus Over to Crucifixion

(27:24-26,31, 15:15,20, 23:24-25, 19:12-16) As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, "If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar." When Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. And when Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of this Man's blood; see to that yourselves." And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children!" And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand should be granted. And then wishing to satisfy the multitude, he Pilate released Barabbas for them the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will. Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, "Behold, your King!" They therefore cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." And but so after having Jesus scourged, he then delivered Him to them to be crucified. And after they had mocked Him, they took His purple robe off Him and put His garments on Him, and they led Him away/out to crucify Him.

The Road to Golgotha

(27:32-33, 15:21-22, 23:26-33a, 19:17) They took Jesus therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross. And as they were coming out, when they led Him away, they found/laid hold of one a man a passer-by coming in from the country of Cyrene named Simon, (the father of Alexander and Rufus), whom they pressed into service and placed on him the cross to bear/carry His cross behind Jesus. And there were following Him a great multitude of the people, and of women who were mourning and lamenting Him. But Jesus turning to them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are 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 these things in the green tree, what will happen in the dry?" And two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him. And when they had come/came/brought Him to a/the place called The Skull in Hebrew, Golgotha, which is translated/means Place of a Skull.

The Crucifixion of Jesus

(27:34-38, 15:23-28, 23:33b-35a,38, 19:18-25a) And they tried to give/gave Him wine to drink mingled/mixed with gall/myrrh; and but after tasting it, He did not/was unwilling to drink/take it. And there they crucified Him. But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And therefore when they the soldiers had crucified Him Jesus, they took/divided/dividing up His outer garments among themselves, and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. They said therefore to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be"; that the Scripture might be fulfilled, "They divided My outer garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots." And they casting lots, to decide what each should take. Therefore the soldiers did these things. And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there. And the people stood by, looking on. And it was the third hour when they crucified Him. And now Pilate wrote an/the inscription also, and put it on the cross. And they put up above Him His head of the charge against Him which read, and it was written, "THIS IS JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS." Therefore this inscription many of the Jews read, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and in Greek. And so the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, "Do not write, '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 there at that time two other men, criminals/robbers they were crucified one on either side with Him, one on the His right and the other one on the His left, and Jesus in between. And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And He was numbered with transgressors."

The Mockers of Jesus

(27:39-44, 15:29-32, 23:35b-37,39-42) And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, "Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! And if You are the Son of God, come down from the cross." In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, and even the rulers were mocking/sneering at Him among themselves, and saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One. He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him this Christ, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and we shall believe in Him! He trusts in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He takes pleasure in Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.'" And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!" And one of the criminals who were hanged there those the robbers also who had been/were crucified with Him were/was casting/hurling the same insult/abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!" But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!"

The Words of Jesus from the Cross

(27:45-56, 15:33-41, 23:44-49, 19:25b-37) And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise." When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her into his own household. And it was now when from about the sixth hour had come, and darkness fell upon/over all the whole land until the ninth hour, the sun being obscured; and at about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, that is, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" And when some of those the bystanders who were standing there, when they heard it, they began saying, "Behold, this man He is calling for Elijah." After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I am thirsty." A jar full of sour wine was standing there; and so immediately someone of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine, and they put it sponge full of the sour wine upon a reed, a branch of hyssop, and brought it up to His mouth and gave Him a drink. But the rest of them said, saying, "Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down to save Him." And when Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He Jesus cried/crying out/uttered again with a loud voice, said, "It is finished! Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit.” And having said this, He breathed His last. And He bowed His head, and yielded/gave up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split, and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. The Jews therefore, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. The soldiers therefore came, and broke the legs of the first man, and of the other man who was crucified with Him; but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs; but one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water. And he who has seen has borne witness, and his witness is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. For these things came to pass, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, "Not a bone of Him shall be broken." And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced." And now when the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus who was standing right in front of Him, when they saw the way He breathed His last, the earthquake and the things that were/what had happening/happened, became very frightened, he began praising God, and he said, saying, " Certainly this man was innocent. Truly this man was the Son of God!" And all the multitudes who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, began to return, beating their breasts. But there were standing by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. And all His acquaintances and there were also some many women were there standing looking on from at a distance, seeing these things. And when He was in Galilee, they used to who had followed/accompanied Him Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, among whom was/were Mary Magdalene, and along with Mary the mother of James the Less and Joseph/Joses, and Salome, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee; and there were many other women who had come up with Him to Jerusalem.

The Burial of Jesus

(27:57-61, 15:42-47, 23:50-56, 19:38-42) And when evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, and the Sabbath was about to begin. And behold, after these things when it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, named Joseph of Arimathea, who was a prominent member of the Council, a good and righteous man (he had not consented to their plan and action), who himself had also become/was/being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one, for fear of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God. And he gathered up courage and this man went in to before Pilate and asked for that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered if He was dead by this time, and summoning the centurion, he questioned him as to whether He was already dead. And ascertaining this from the centurion, then he Pilate ordered/granted permission it the body to be given over to him Joseph. He came therefore, and took away His body. And Nicodemus came also, who had first come to Him by night; bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. And Joseph bought a linen cloth, and so they he Joseph took it Him the body of Jesus down, and wrapped/bound it Him in a/the clean linen cloth wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new tomb, in which where no one had ever yet been laid/lain. Therefore on account of the Jewish day of preparation, because the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. And laid it Him in a his own new tomb, which he had been hewn/cut out into the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. And now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed after and saw the tomb, Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary the mother of Joses, were sitting opposite the grave looking on to see where and how He His body was laid. And they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Pilate and the Chief Priests Conspire

(27:62-66) Now on the next day, which is the one after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, and said, "Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I am to rise again.' Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, lest the disciples come and steal Him away and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last deception will be worse than the first." Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how." And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.

The Resurrection of Jesus

(28:1-10, 16:1-8, 24:1-8, 20:1-17) And but now when after the Sabbath was over, as it began to at early dawn toward on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary the mother of James, and Salome, while it was still dark, they came very early to the tomb when the sun had risen to look at the grave bringing/bought the spices which they had prepared, that they might come and anoint Him. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his garment as white as snow; and the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. And looking up, they saw/found that the stone already had been rolled/taken away from the tomb, although it was extremely large. And so she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him." Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and they were going to the tomb. And the two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter, and came to the tomb first; and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. Simon Peter therefore also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he beheld the linen wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth, which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb entered then also, and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. So the disciples went away again to their own homes. But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb. And but when they entered/entering the tomb, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened that while they were perplexed about this, and behold, they she saw/beheld two men angels suddenly stood near them in dazzling white apparel; a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." When she had said this, she turned around, and beheld Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. And he the angel answered and said to them the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified.” And as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. Behold, here is the place where they laid Him. Come, see the place where He was lying. And but go quickly and tell His disciples and Peter, that He has risen from the dead; and behold, 'He is going before you into Galilee, there you will see Him, just as He said to you.' Behold, I have told you." And they remembered His words, and they went out and fled and they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid and ran to report it to His disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means, Teacher). And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; but go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they shall see Me and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'"