John 19:23–42

²³When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes. They divided them into four parts. Each soldier got one part. Jesus’ long, inner robe was left. It did not have any seams. It was made out of one piece of cloth from top to bottom.

²⁴“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s cast lots to see who will get it.”

This happened so that Scripture would come true. It says,

“They divided up my clothes among them.

They cast lots for what I was wearing.”

So that is what the soldiers did.

²⁵Jesus’ mother stood near his cross. So did his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

²⁶Jesus saw his mother there. He also saw the disciple he loved standing nearby. Jesus said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son.” ²⁷He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, the disciple took her into his home.

Jesus Dies

²⁸Later Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” He knew that everything was now finished. He knew that what Scripture said must come true. ²⁹A jar of wine vinegar was there. So they soaked a sponge in it. They put the sponge on a stem of the hyssop plant. Then they lifted it up to Jesus’ lips.

³⁰After Jesus drank he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and died.

³¹It was Preparation Day. The next day would be a special Sabbath. The Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath. So they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. ³²The soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus. Then they broke the legs of the other man.

³³But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead. So they did not break his legs. ³⁴Instead, one of the soldiers stuck his spear into Jesus’ side. Right away, blood and water flowed out. ³⁵The man who saw it has given witness. And his witness is true. He knows that he tells the truth. He gives witness so that you also can believe.

³⁶These things happened in order that Scripture would come true. It says, “Not one of his bones will be broken.” ³⁷Scripture also says, “They will look to the one they have pierced.”

Jesus Is Buried

³⁸Later Joseph asked Pilate for Jesus’ body. Joseph was from the town of Arimathea. He was a follower of Jesus. But he followed Jesus secretly because he was afraid of the Jews. After Pilate gave him permission, Joseph came and took the body away.

³⁹Nicodemus went with Joseph. He was the man who had earlier visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought some mixed spices, about 75 pounds. ⁴⁰The two men took Jesus’ body. They wrapped it in strips of linen cloth, along with the spices. That was the way the Jews buried people’s bodies.

⁴¹At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden. A new tomb was there. No one had ever been put in it before. ⁴²That day was the Jewish Preparation Day, and the tomb was nearby. So they placed Jesus there.