Matthew 27:32-44

And as they came out of the city, they stopped an African man named Simon, from Libya, and compelled him to carry the cross for Jesus. They brought Jesus to Golgotha, which means “Skull Hill.” And there the soldiers offered him a mild painkiller, a drink of wine mixed with gall, but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. Then they crucified Jesus, nailing his hands and feet to the cross. The soldiers divided his clothing among themselves by rolling dice to see who would win them. And the soldiers stood there to watch what would happen and to keep guard over him. Above his head they placed a sign that read, “This is Jesus of Nazareth, King of Israel.” Two criminals were also crucified with Jesus, one on each side of him. And those who passed by shook their heads and ridiculed him, saying, “We heard you boast that you could destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days! Why don’t you save yourself now? If you’re really God’s Son, come down from the cross!” Even the ruling priests, with the Jewish scholars and religious leaders, joined in the mockery and kept on saying, “He saved others, but he can’t even save himself! Israel’s king, is he? He should pull out the nails and come down from the cross right now; then we’ll believe in him! He puts his trust in God, so let’s see if it’s true, and see if God really wants to rescue him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” Even the two criminals who were crucified with Jesus began to taunt him, hurling their insults on him.

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