Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was God’s Son!’ (Mark 15: 37-38)

He died. It was probably a combination of blood loss and aphixiation. During crucifixion it is increasingly difficult for the lungs to operate.

He died. May my death be less painful. But whether we die slowly of hunger, or fearfully in violence, or peacefully in our sleep... the end will come.

He died. In many respects he chose this way of death. He saw it coming. He did not resist. He did not seek to dissuade those who would put him to death.

He died. He was a teacher. His teaching was remarkable for the unexpected analogy and the pithy example. His greatest lesson was his way of death.

He died. No parable was sufficient. Words could not capture the meaning. Only a dramatic example had a chance of helping us understand.