The Crucifixion
Jesus dies on the cross
This story tells how Jesus was put to death on a cross. It is told plainly, without graphic detail.
Two things you can tap
- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
Story
What happened?
Tap a verse number, like , to read the Bible’s exact words.
The whole story, in shortWhat happens, start to finish. Open it if you want the ending first.
Jesus was led to a place called the Skull and crucified between two criminals. Jesus prayed for God to forgive the people who did it and promised one criminal he would be with him in paradise. At noon the sky went dark, Jesus died, and Joseph of Arimathea buried him in a tomb.
Where it is in the Bible: Luke 23:26-56
Who’s who and what came beforePeople, places, and the story so far. Open it anytime.
Scene Card
Cast
- Jesus: The one the Gospels present as the promised Messiah and the Son of God.
- Simon of Cyrene: A man coming into the city. Soldiers made him carry the cross.
- Two criminals: Men put to death on crosses next to Jesus.
- A centurion: A Roman army officer in charge of 100 soldiers.
- Pilate: The Roman governor. He gave the order to crucify Jesus.
- Joseph of Arimathea: A member of the Jewish council who did not agree with what they did to Jesus.
- The women from Galilee: Followers of Jesus who came with him from Galilee.
Setting
- Near Jerusalem, at a place called The Skull. Then a tomb cut into rock, not far away.
When
- About 2,000 years ago, on a Friday. The story ends at sunset, as the Sabbath begins.
Before the Story
At the Last Supper, Jesus gave himself "for you." He gave his friends bread and said, "This is My body, given for you" (Luke 22:19). He gave them the cup, "poured out for you" (Luke 22:20).
On the Mount of Olives, Jesus was arrested. Then Peter denied him. Jesus prayed there, and Judas led a crowd to take him away (Luke 22:39-54). In the high priest's courtyard, Peter said three times that he did not know Jesus (Luke 22:54-62).
Then Jesus stood before Pilate. Pilate, the Roman governor, said he found Jesus not guilty. But he gave in to the shouting and handed Jesus over to be crucified (Luke 22:63 to 23:25).
Here's what you know that almost nobody in this story knows: Jesus had told his followers he would be killed. He also said he would rise on the third day (Luke 9:22). Sunday is coming.
Map of the Story
| Scene | Verses | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The road to the cross | 23:26-32 | Simon carries the cross. Women follow, crying |
| 2. The cross | 23:33-34 | Jesus is crucified. He forgives |
| 3. Mocked | 23:35-38 | Leaders and soldiers make fun of Jesus |
| 4. Two criminals | 23:39-43 | One criminal asks Jesus to remember him |
| 5. Darkness | 23:44-49 | The sky goes dark. Jesus dies |
| 6. The tomb | 23:50-56 | Joseph buries Jesus. The women watch, then rest on the Sabbath |
Plain Retelling
Scene 1 of 6The Road to the Cross
Roman soldiers led Jesus away. On the road, they grabbed a man named Simon, from the city of Cyrene. Simon was coming in from the country. The soldiers made Simon carry the cross behind Jesus.
A large crowd followed. Some women in the crowd were crying loudly for Jesus.
Jesus turned to the women. He called them "Daughters of Jerusalem." He told them not to cry for him, but to cry for themselves and their children. He said terrible days were coming. People would call on the mountains to fall on them and on the hills to cover them.
Then Jesus said, "For if men do these things while the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?" (23:31). This is a picture. One likely meaning: if people treat Jesus this way now, worse times will come later.
Two criminals were led out with Jesus. They were going to be put to death too.
Scene 2 of 6The Cross
They came to a place called The Skull. There the soldiers crucified Jesus.
To crucify someone meant nailing them to a wooden cross and leaving them to die. It was one of the cruelest ways Rome put people to death.
The soldiers crucified the two criminals too, one on each side of Jesus.
Then Jesus prayed. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (23:34).
The soldiers split up his clothes. They cast lots to decide who got what. Casting lots was like throwing dice.
Scene 3 of 6Mocked
People stood watching. Some of the leaders made fun of Jesus. They said he saved others, so he should save himself, if he really was God's Christ, the Chosen One.
The soldiers mocked him too. They offered him sour wine. "If you are the King of the Jews," they said, "save yourself."
A sign hung above his head. It said, "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS" (23:38).
Here's what you know that the soldiers did not. The sign was meant to mock him. But it was true.
Scene 4 of 6Two Criminals
One of the criminals shouted insults at Jesus. "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
The other criminal told the first one to stop. He asked whether that man did not even fear God, since they were both being punished the same way. He said the two of them deserved their punishment. But Jesus had done nothing wrong.
Then the second criminal said, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom" (23:42).
Jesus answered, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise" (23:43). Paradise means being with God.
The man brought Jesus nothing. He had nothing left but a request. Jesus gave him a promise.
Scene 5 of 6Darkness
At about noon, darkness covered the whole land. It stayed dark until about three in the afternoon.
The sun stopped shining. In the temple, a huge curtain tore down the middle.
Jesus called out in a loud voice, "Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit" (23:46). Then he died.
The centurion, a Roman officer, saw what happened. He praised God. He said this man was truly innocent.
The crowd went home beating their chests. Back then, that showed deep sadness.
Jesus's friends stood far off, watching. The women who had followed him from Galilee were there.
Scene 6 of 6The Tomb
A man named Joseph came to help. He was a member of the Jewish council, "a good and righteous man" (23:50). He had not agreed with what the council did to Jesus. He came from Arimathea, a town in Judea. He was waiting for God's kingdom.
Joseph asked Pilate for Jesus's body. Joseph took the body down from the cross. He wrapped it in linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb cut into the rock.
It was Preparation Day, the Friday before the Sabbath. The Sabbath, the weekly day of rest, was beginning.
The women from Galilee followed Joseph. They saw the tomb and how the body was laid inside.
The women went home to prepare spices and perfumes for the body.
Then the sun went down, and the Sabbath began. The women rested, as God's law said.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "Father, forgive them" (23:34) | Even while dying, Jesus asked God to forgive the people hurting him. |
| "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS" (23:38) | The sign was meant to mock Jesus. Luke wants readers to see that it was true. Jesus is the promised king. |
| "Today you will be with Me in Paradise" (23:43) | A man with nothing to offer received a promise. Jesus called people like this "poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3). |
| "The veil of the temple was torn" (23:45) | The curtain kept people out of the most holy room in the temple. Christians see its tearing as a sign that the way to God is now open (Hebrews 10:19-20). |
| "Into Your hands I commit My Spirit" (23:46) | Jesus trusted his Father all the way to the end. He was quoting a psalm (Psalm 31:5). |
| "Surely this was a righteous man" (23:47) | Here righteous means innocent. Many Bibles translate it that way. Luke shows it again and again. Pilate found no guilt in Jesus (23:4). The criminal said Jesus had done nothing wrong (23:41). Now the Roman officer said it too. |
Back Then
Crucifixion was seen as the most horrible way to die. It was done outside the city, near a public road. (Easton's Bible Dictionary)
The Skull has other names. Many Bibles call it Calvary, from the Latin word for skull. Other Gospels call it Golgotha, the Aramaic word for skull. (Easton's Bible Dictionary)
The Sabbath began at sunset on Friday. A Jewish day began at sunset (Easton's Bible Dictionary). Friday was called Preparation Day, the day before the Sabbath (Mark 15:42). People got ready for the Sabbath that day. Work stopped until sunset on Saturday. That is why the women had to wait.
Tombs were carved into rock. A large stone closed the door. It took several people to move it. (Easton's Bible Dictionary)
Literal Reader Alert
Who killed Jesus? Luke tells it this way. The temple leaders handed Jesus over. Pilate, the Roman governor, gave the order. Roman soldiers carried it out (23:1-25, 23:33).
For hundreds of years, some Christians blamed all Jewish people for Jesus's death. Even Martin Luther wrote terrible things about Jewish people. That was wrong. It led to hatred and violence. The ELCA, the Lutheran church in America, said so clearly in 1994. Read why we still quote Luther, and where he was wrong.
Jesus was Jewish. So were his mother and his first followers. So were the women who cried for him, and Joseph, who buried him. Christians believe Jesus died because of the sin of every person, and he went willingly, out of love, to forgive it.
Did Jesus really die? Yes. Luke says he breathed his last, and a Roman officer saw it happen (23:46-47). Joseph took his body down and buried it, and the women saw where it was laid (23:53-55).
If this story is hard to read: It is a hard story. If this story brings up big feelings, talk with a parent, pastor, or trusted adult. If you are in danger right now, call 911 or your local emergency number. In the United States, you can also call or text 988 any time, day or night. Outside the United States, findahelpline.com lists free helplines.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The women on the road | Heartbroken | Jesus was being led away to die (23:27) |
| The second criminal | Humble, and hopeful | He said he deserved his punishment, and he asked Jesus to remember him (23:40-42) |
| The centurion | Moved to praise God | He saw how Jesus died (23:47) |
| The crowd | Deeply sad | They saw what had happened (23:48) |
| Jesus's friends | Grieving | They could only watch from far away (23:49) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
Which moment in this story do you need most today? Tap one.
"Father, forgive them"
Jesus forgave the people hurting him, while they were still doing it. That forgiveness is for you too.
"Remember me"
The man next to Jesus had nothing left but a request. Jesus gave him a promise. You can ask the same thing.
Watching from far away
Jesus's friends could only watch from a distance. Jesus died for them too. You do not have to feel close for this to be for you.
It's really bad right now
Jesus knows what suffering is like, because he suffered too. He does not leave you alone in yours. Please tell a trusted adult today. If you are in danger, call 911 or your local emergency number. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 any time. Outside the U.S., findahelpline.com lists free helplines.
You Might Have Heard
"Jesus died to show us how to be brave and good."
What's true: Jesus was brave, and he forgave the people hurting him.
What the story is mainly about: Jesus died for us. Paul says this is the most important news of all: "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3). And the story does not stop at the tomb. Paul goes on: "He was raised on the third day" (1 Corinthians 15:4).
Where Jesus is: At the center of everything. Every story on this site points here.
Good News
The criminal next to Jesus had nothing to bring. Jesus still promised him paradise, that same day.
The night before he died, Jesus gave his friends bread and said, "This is My body, given for you" (Luke 22:19). He gave them the cup, "poured out for you" (Luke 22:20). On the cross, he did what he said. Christians still receive that gift in Holy Communion.
Jesus prayed for the people hurting him. His forgiveness is big enough for them, and for you.
Friday is not the end. The women rested on the Sabbath, with spices ready for a dead body. But you know what is coming. Jesus said he would rise on the third day (Luke 9:22).
Jesus gave his body and his life for you, and Sunday is coming.
Big Idea
On the cross, God's Son gave his life for us and prayed forgiveness for the people who put him there.
If this story brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
In the Heidelberg Disputation (1518), Luther taught that God shows himself most clearly at the cross. There God is found in weakness and suffering, where people least expect him. In the Small Catechism, Luther says Jesus has freed us. He did it "not with gold or silver but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death."
In Church
Many churches follow a reading plan called the Revised Common Lectionary. Luke 23:33-43 is read on Christ the King Sunday, also called Reign of Christ, in Year C. On the Sunday of the Passion, also called Palm Sunday, Year C reads Luke's whole story of Jesus's suffering and death. That reading is Luke 22:14 to 23:56, or the shorter Luke 23:1-49.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.
How did that feel?