4 of 7 · After he has known you through and through.
He died for you
This is the center. They nailed him up between criminals. The sky went dark. The Son of God dies where you can see him — not as a tragedy that happened to someone else. For you.
A man dying beside him had nothing to offer but a plea to be remembered. Jesus said, Today you will be with me in Paradise. If it was not too late for him, it is not too late for you.
Mt 27:45-50; Mk 15:33-37; Lk 23:44-46; Jn 19:28-30
Matthew 27:45–50
45Now from the sixth hour27:45 noon there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.27:45 3:00 p.m.
46About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lima27:46 TR reads “lama” instead of “lima” sabachthani?” That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”27:46 Psalm 22:1
47Some of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”
48Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave him a drink.
49The rest said, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”
50Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit.
Mark 15:33–37
33When the sixth hour15:33 or, noon had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.15:33 3:00 p.m.
34At the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is, being interpreted, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 15:34 Psalm 22:1
35Some of those who stood by, when they heard it, said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.”
36One ran, and filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to take him down.”
37Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and gave up the spirit.
Luke 23:44–46
44It was now about the sixth hour,23:44 Time was counted from sunrise, so the sixth hour was about noon. and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.23:44 3:00 p.m.
45The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.
46Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last.
John 19:28–30
28After this, Jesus, seeing19:28 NU, TR read “knowing” instead of “seeing” that all things were now finished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I am thirsty!”
29Now a vessel full of vinegar was set there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop, and held it at his mouth.
30When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
“Or otherwise; The wonder was in this, that the darkness was over the whole earth, which had never come to pass before, save only in Egypt what time the Passover was celebrated; for the things done then were a type of these. And consider the time when this is done; at mid-day, while over the whole world it was day, that all the dwellers on the earth might perceive it.”