The crucifixion. Jesus prays for his murderers. Pilate puts an inscription above the cross. Jesus speaks words of encouragement to the penitent thief. Commits to John the care of his mother and Miriam. The soldiers divide his garments among themselves.
The Jewish mob pushed on toward Calvary and as they went the Marys, Miriam, and other women not a few, were close beside the Lord.
2 They wept aloud. When Jesus saw them weeping and lamenting thus he said,
3 Weep not for me, for though I go away, go through the gateway of the cross, yet on the next day of the sun, lift up your hearts, for I will meet you at the sepulchre.
4 The great procession came to Calvary. The Roman soldiers had already bound the two state prisoners to the cross.
5 (They were not nailed, but simply bound.)
6 Four soldiers of the Roman guard that Herod brought from Galilee were called to execute the orders of the court.
7 These were the men who had been set apart to torture Jesus and secure from him confession of his guilt.
8 These were the men who scourged him, put a crown of thorns upon his head, a broken reed into his hands, and wrapped him in a royal robe, and bowed in mockery, before him as a king.
9 These soldiers took the Lord and stripped him, laid him on the cross and would have bound him there with cords; but this would not suffice.