Then the soldiers stripped the purple clothes off Jesus, and put his own clothes back on him, and led him outside the city to be crucified. He was too worn out to carry his own cross, as those who were to be crucified usually did, so the soldiers forced a man of Cyrene named Simon to carry it for him. [Illustration] When they reached a hill called Calvary, they laid the cross down on the ground, and stripped Jesus of his clothes. They put Jesus on the cross, and stretched out his arms. They drove a nail through each hand, and one through his feet, fastening him to the cross. Then they stood the cross upright, and let Jesus hang there. On the top of it was written: "This is the King of the Jews." There was a cross on either side of him, with a thief hanging on each one. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." The soldiers took his clothes, and divided them up among themselves. His coat was too good to tear up, so they threw dice to see which one of them would get it. Jesus was offered a drink which would have made the pain easier to bear, but he would not take it. People passed to and fro in front of the cross, shouting insults. "He saved others, but he can't save himself." One of the thieves turned his head and called out to him angrily, "If you are the Christ, save yourself and us too!" But the other thief spoke out of his pain: "Don't you fear God, seeing that we are all going to die? Aren't you afraid to talk that way? We deserve to die; but this man never did anything wrong." Then, turning to Jesus, he said, "Lord, remember me when you come to your Kingdom." Jesus said to him, "I tell you, today you will be with me in heaven." Near the cross stood Jesus' mother and other women who loved him. John the disciple was also there. Jesus called to his mother and John, and said: "Mother, from now on John will be your son. John, this is your mother." John took Jesus' mother to his own house. The hours passed by. It was about time for the Passover lambs to be killed in the city. Clouds were beginning to cover the sun, and it was growing dark although it was not yet night. Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" There was a stir of interest in the crowd. _Let's see what will happen now_, they thought. Jesus was becoming weaker. He said, "I am thirsty." A soldier dipped a sponge in vinegar, and held it up on a stick to Jesus' lips so that he could drink. Jesus cried out once more: "It is finished. Father, into thy hands I give my spirit." His head sank down upon his chest. There was a loud sound like a clap of thunder, and the earth shook. In the silence that followed, a Roman soldier spoke. "This man--" he said, "this man was indeed the Son of God." But Jesus did not hear him. For Jesus was dead. * * * * *