The Eyewitness Account of the Crucifixion,

All 4 books of the Gospels mention the signature events in the final hours of Jesus’ life but it is perhaps the book of JOHN that gives a more intimate and close-up account, especially the crucifixion, because this “eyewitness” was at the very foot of the cross. The other most trusted and loyal disciples [apostles] having fled, leaving the women standing by and viewing everything from afar (Cp. Matthew 27: 55-56; Mark 15: 40-41: Luke 24: 27, 49). In the book of JOHN (19: 25-27), this narrative sheds a whole new light on what really happened for it says, “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.


Matthew 27: 45-54
And when the sixth hour had come [12 Noon], darkness fell over the entire land until the ninth hour [3 P.M.]. And at the ninth hour [3 P.M.] Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHITHANI?” which translated, MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME [Cp. John 16: 32; Hebrews 13: 5-6??];?” And when some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, “Behold, He is calling for Elijah.” And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink [Cp. Psalms 69:21], saying, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.” And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last. And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. NOTE: verses 53-54 are a curiously odd placement here(??). So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God.!”

Mark 15: 33-39 includes basically everything in MATTHEW, but does not include the supernatural phenomena of earthquakes and resurrection of the saints who died long ago.

Luke 23: 44-47 exclude supernatural phenomena of earthquakes and resurrection of the saints, too, and has Jesus saying, “Father, into Thy hand do I commit My spirit..."

John 19: 30-37
So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “IT IS FINISHED!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for the Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was dead already, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out (Cp. 7: 37-39). As he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “NOT ONE OF HIS BONES SHALL BE BROKEN.” And again, another Scripture says, “THEY SHALL LOOK UPON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED.”


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
June 22, 2008
pbks@hotmail.com