The crowd was split in their in their feelings.  There were those who had been stirred up by their religious leaders and wanted to see blood spilt.  They goaded the Romans into punishing him by nailing him to a cross where he would hang until he died.  The soldiers in charge couldn’t wait for the crucifixion as they beat him and ridiculed him by putting a crown of thorns on his head.  When they were done with their fun, they nailed his hands and feet to the cross and hoisted it upright.  They ridiculed and taunted him.  Others looked on in horror as an innocent man who they had thought was the man would free from the Romans slowly began to die.  And it happened at half past Friday.

Suddenly, the sky went dark, though it was the middle of the day.  This inexplicable darkness lasted for three hours.  At the same time, the veil of separation in the temple torn in two.  And it happened at half past Friday.

After hanging there another three hours with his arms dislocating and his breathing more and more difficult, 34 Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” which is translated, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” (Mark 15:34) 46 Then Jesus, cried out with a loud voice, said, “Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.” Having said this, He breathed His last.

After the Cross

If the story had ended there, it would have been heart-rending tragedy. An innocent man was falsely accused and condemned to death.  His friends, family, and followers could do nothing to save Him.  But that was the whole point.  He wasn’t supposed to be saved.  We are.  His death paid the price for our sins.  And His resurrection three days later gave us the hope that this new life would be everlasting.