The King on a Cross^(A)

^17 (B)And He, bearing His cross, ^(C)went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, ¹⁸ where they crucified Him, and ^(D)two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. ^19 (E)Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was:

JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

²⁰ Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.

²¹ Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.” ’ ”

²² Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

^23 (F)Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. ²⁴ They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:

Therefore the soldiers did these things.

Behold Your Mother

^25 (H)Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of ^(I)Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and ^(J)the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, ^(K)“Woman, behold your son!” ²⁷ Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her ^(L)to his own home.

It Is Finished

²⁸ After this, Jesus, ^[a]knowing that all things were now accomplished, ^(M)that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” ²⁹ Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and ^(N)they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. ³⁰ So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ^(O)“It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Praise for the Lord’s Mercies

A Psalm of David.