The Crucifixion

After Jesus had been scourged, and his own clothes had been put back on him, he was forced to carry the heavy beam, which was to form the cross-bar of his Cross, through the streets of Jerusalem.  But worn out and weak with loss of blood from the flogging, he fell under the weight of the beam.  The soldiers therefore ordered a passer-by called Simon, who came from Cyrene in North Africa, to carry it for him.

The place where Jesus was crucified was outside the city walls and was known as Golgotha or Calvary which means the place of a skull.  When they got there the soldiers nailed Jesus by his hands and feet to the Cross before raising it into position, but all Jesus said was, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (NRSV, Luke 23:34).  Next to him they crucified two thieves as well, one on either side. The crowd kept jeering at Jesus on the Cross, but during all the hours he hung there, Mary his mother and John his disciple stood near to keep him company.