40-01

to crucify him

The soldiers crucified criminals by nailing them to a large cross and keeping them there until they died.

40-02

the Skull

This is a small escarpment near Jerusalem with a rocky, white face which looks somewhat like a skull.

forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing

Jesus knew that the soldiers thought Jesus was only a criminal who deserved to die. They did not understand that he was the Son of God.

a sign on the cross above his head

The Romans often put a sign on a cross to state the crime that the person had committed.

40-03

gambled for Jesus’ clothing

The soldiers played a game of chance to win Jesus’ clothes.

they fulfilled a prophecy that said

King David wrote these words in Psalm 22 hundreds of years before this event.

40-04

two robbers

This refers to criminals who used force or violence to steal things.

Paradise

This is another name for heaven.

40-05

come down from the cross and save yourself!

These people did not understand that Jesus was able to come down from the cross and to save himself (See: 38:15). However, it was God’s plan for him to die so that he could save other people (See: 38:12).

40-06

the whole region became completely dark

God caused this darkness. Natural events such as an eclipse only last few minutes. This darkness lasted three hours.

40-07

It is finished!

This means that Jesus has completed his work to save people who had sinned against God.

gave up his spirit

Jesus released his spirit back to God, and he died.

the large curtain

This was a large, strong fabric hung in the Temple. It was like a wall separating one room from another.

from the top to the bottom

The curtain was torn from the top to indicate that God was opening it from above, rather than men opening it from below.

40-08

opened the way for people to come to God

The tearing of the curtain showed that the barrier between God and people had been removed.

He was the Son of God

The soldier realized that Jesus did not die like an ordinary man, and that God had done the miraculous things that happened when he died.

40-09

Joseph

This was not Mary’s husband. It was another man named Joseph.

asked Pilate for Jesus’ body

The two men asked Pilate to permit them to take Jesus’ body down from the cross in order to bury it.