Based on Luke 23:32-56

Jesus and two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed. They were taken to a place called The Skull. There they drove nails through his hands and his feet and nailed him to a cross, two planks of wood. And he was raised up-on his right a criminal, on his left a criminal.

The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Promised Savior.”

One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Promised Savior, are you? Prove it by saving yourself-and us, too, while you’re at it!”

But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come back with power to rule.”

And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

By this time it was noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. The light from the sun was gone. Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he died.

There was a good religious leader who did not agree with what the others had done. He went to the governor and asked for Jesus’ body. He took the body down from the cross (the planks of wood) and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock.

This was done late on Friday afternoon. As his body was taken away, the women who had been one of his followers followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. A huge stone was placed in front of the entrance of the tomb. Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to prepare his body for burial according to their custom. But by the time they were finished their religious day of rest had begun, so they were required by their religious laws to wait until after the day of rest was over before they could go back to the tomb.

Drawing Elements: Jesus, Garden, Followers, Arrested/whipped, Tomb