Luke 23:26-3426And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. 27And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. 28But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. 29For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. 30Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. 31For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? 32And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. 33And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (Luke 23:26‑34)
THE wicked people were very glad when Pilate said that Jesus was to be crucified. They made a cross of two great pieces of wood and made Jesus carry it. They took him out of Jerusalem into the country. The wicked people came with Him.
Jesus was so weak that He could hardly walk, and the cross was so heavy that He could not carry it. He would have dropped down on the way if a man had not helped Him to carry the cross.
There were a few people who were sorry for the Lord Jesus. Some women, who loved Him very much, came crying after Him. Jesus heard them crying, and He turned round and spoke very kindly to them.
He said, ‘Do not cry for Me; cry for yourselves and for your children.’ Why did Jesus tell them to cry for themselves?
Jesus knew how God would one day punish the people in Jerusalem for their wickedness.
At last Jesus came to the top of a hill. Then the soldiers made Jesus lie on His cross, and they put nails in His hands and nails in His feet. So they nailed Him to the cross. Then the soldiers made a hole in the ground and stuck the cross in it.
They had taken off Jesus’ clothes. And when He was on the cross, four soldiers tore the clothes in four pieces. They each took a piece. But when they looked at His coat they said, ‘We will not tear it, because there is no seam in it’. Then one of the soldiers took it for his own. So the wicked people took everything away from Jesus.
Was Jesus very angry with them?
No, He was as meek as a lamb. He prayed to His Father while He was on the cross. He could not lift up His hands, but He could speak to God. He prayed for these wicked people. He said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’
‘Father, forgive,’ the sufferer cries,
‘Because they know not what they do.’
To heaven He lifts His dying eyes:
Was such a prayer e’er heard below?
Tell me for whom the Savior prays?
For those who bear Him deadly hate,
Who spat upon His lovely face,
And pierced His blessed hands and feet.
And does the Savior pray for these?
Ah, then I see that I should pray
For all who hurt me, vex, or tease,
By spiteful things they do or say.
Questions
Who carried Jesus’ cross?
Could Jesus carry it by Himself?
Who came after Jesus crying, because He was going to die?
What did Jesus say to these kind women?
What did the wicked men do to Jesus when He came to the top of the hill?
Who took Jesus’ clothes?
Did they tear them all?
Who did Jesus ask His Father to forgive?
Should we forgive people who are unkind to us?
Jesus’ prayer for those who crucified Him:
A verse from the Bible for you to learn:
“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”