A Hymn of Praise

Future Glory

¹⁸ I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God, ²⁰ for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be set free from its enslavement to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning together as it suffers together the pains of labor, ²³ and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.^{(A) 24} For in^[a] hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what one already sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Jesus Sentenced to Death

¹³ Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people ¹⁴ and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people, and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him.^{(A) 15} Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶ I will therefore have him flogged and release him.”^[a](B)

¹⁸ Then they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!”^{(C) 19} (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city and for murder.) ²⁰ Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, ²¹ but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” ²² A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.”^{(D) 23} But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified, and their voices prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. ²⁵ He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.

The Crucifixion of Jesus

²⁶ As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.^{(E) 27} A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him.^{(F) 28} But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.^{(G) 29} For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ ³⁰ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’^{(H) 31} For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”^(I)

³² Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.^{(J) 33} When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus^[b] there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[³⁴ Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”]]^[c] And they cast lots to divide his clothing.^{(K) 35} And the people stood by watching, but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah^[d] of God, his chosen one!”^{(L) 36} The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine^{(M) 37} and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” ³⁸ There was also an inscription over him,^[e] “This is the King of the Jews.”

³⁹ One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding^[f] him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah?^[g] Save yourself and us!”^{(N) 40} But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.”^{(O) 42} Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in^[h] your kingdom.” ⁴³ He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”^(P)

The Death of Jesus

⁴⁴ It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land^[i] until three in the afternoon, ⁴⁵ while the sun’s light failed,^[j] and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.^{(Q) 46} Then Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last.^{(R) 47} When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.”^[k](S)

Jesus’s Side Is Pierced

³¹ Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the Sabbath, especially because that Sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed.^{(A) 32} Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him.^{(B) 33} But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. ³⁴ Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.^{(C) 35} (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows^[a] that he tells the truth, so that you also may continue^[b] to believe.)^{(D) 36} These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.”^{(E) 37} And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.”^(F)