THE CRUCIFIXION The crowd gathered around Jesus, He was spat upon and cursed. Stripped ,then dressed in a scarlet robe, taunted and jeered and ever worse. A crown of thorns around His head, a stick for a scepter in His hand. They hailed Him the King of the Jews, mock subjects bowing in dust and sand. Their revel ended, the robe was removed, and Jesus' own garments were returned. And on Golgotha, they offered Him wine, that with one taste, Jesus quickly spurned. When He was crucified, men gambled, and threw dice to divide His clothes. Then watched Jesus as He hung there, as new jeers and challenges arose. The whole world was darkened that day, in the hours between noon and three. Then at three o'clock, Jesus shouted, "My God, why have You forsaken Me?' Some thought He spoke to Elijah, but it was to His Father He cried. And even as the mockery continued, He spoke again, and then Christ died. copyright 2001 by Roland Ricker