ritten: "This is the King of the Jews." There was a cross on
either side of him, with a thief hanging on each one.

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

The soldiers took his clothes, and divided them up among themselves.
His coat was too good to tear up, so they threw dice to see which one
of them would get it.

Jesus was offered a drink which would have made the pain easier to
bear, but he would not take it. People passed to and fro in front of
the cross, shouting insults.

"He saved others, but he can't save himself." One of the thieves
turned his head and called out to him angrily,

"If you are the Christ, save yourself and us too!"

But the other thief spoke out of his pain:

"Don't you fear God, seeing that we are all going to die? Aren't you
afraid to talk that way? We deserve to die; but this man never did
anything wrong."

Then, turning to Jesus, he said, "Lord, remember me when you come to
your Kingdom."

Jesus said to him,

"I tell you, today you will be with me in heaven."

Near the cross stood Jesus' mother and other women who loved him. John
the disciple was also there. Jesus called to his mother and John, and
said:

"Mother, from now on John will be your son. John, this is your
mother."

John took Jesus' mother to his own house.

The hours passed by. It was about time for the Passover lambs to be
killed in the city. Clouds were beginning to cover the sun, and it was
growing dark although it was not yet night.

Jesus cried out,

"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

There was a stir of interest in the crowd. _Let's see what will happen
now_, they thought.

Jesus was becoming weaker. He said, "I am thirsty."

A soldier dipped a sponge in vinegar, and held it up on a stick to
Jesus' lips so that he could drink.

Jesus cried out once more:

"It is finished. Father, into thy hands I give my spirit."

His head sank down upon his chest. There was a loud sound like a clap
of thunder, and the earth shook.

In the silence that followed, a Roman soldier spoke.

"This man--" he said, "this man was indeed the Son of God."

But Jesus did not hear him. For Jesus was dead.

* * * * *

When evening came, a man named Joseph of Arimathaea went to see
Pilate. Joseph was a rich man, and much respected; and he had believed
in Jesus. He went secretly to Pilate, for he was afraid of the Jews.
He asked Pilate if he might ha