[Holy Week]: #19; GOLGOTHA

   When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they
put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand.
And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked
Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Then they
spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on
the head. And when they had mocked Him, they
took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him,
and led Him away to be crucified.
   Now as they came out, they found a man of Cy-
rene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear
His cross. And when they had come to a place cal-
led Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull, they
gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But
when He had tasted it, He would not drink.
   Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments,
casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken
by the prophet:

     They divided My garments among
          them,
     And for My clothing they cast lots."

Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. And
they put up over His head the accusation written a-
gainst Him:

                        THIS IS JESUS
               THE KING OF THE JEWS.

   Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one
on the right and another on the left.
   And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wag-
ging their heads and saying, "You who destroy the
temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If
You are the Son of God, come down from the
cross."
   Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the
scribes and elders, said, "He saved others; Himself
He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him
now come down from the cross, and we will be-
lieve Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him
now if He will have Him; for He said, 'I am the Son
of God.'"
   Even the robbers who were crucified with Him
reviled Him with the same thing.

Matthew 27:29-44