The Death of Jesus

From the sixth to the ninth hour darkness covers the land. Jesus cries out in agony, some mistake the cry for Elijah, and the bystanders wait to see whether deliverance will come. When Jesus dies, the temple veil tears, the earth shakes, tombs open, saints are raised, the centurion confesses him, and the women who followed him remain watching from a distance.

F⁴⁵rom the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. ⁴⁶About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” ⁴⁷When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He is calling Elijah.” ⁴⁸One of them quickly ran and brought a sponge. He filled it with sour wine, put it on a reed, and held it up for Jesus to drink. ⁴⁹But the others said, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to save Him.” ⁵⁰When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He yielded up His spirit. ⁵¹At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, and the rocks were split. ⁵²The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. ⁵³After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people. ⁵⁴When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.” ⁵⁵And many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to minister to Him. ⁵⁶Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.