Bible moment
The Bible moment
Luke 23:32–33 says Jesus was led to the place called The Skull with two criminals, and there they were crucified—one on each side of Jesus. Luke does not name the criminals or describe their crimes in these verses. This moment belongs to Luke’s account of Jesus’ crucifixion and death. The passage continues with Jesus’ words, the response of one criminal who asks Jesus to remember him, darkness over the land from the sixth hour until the ninth hour, and the tearing of the temple curtain. Jesus then commits his spirit into the Father’s hands and dies. The account closes with the centurion praising God and declaring Jesus righteous, while others mourn and watch from a distance.
Look closely
What children can notice
At the place called The Skull, three crosses stand in a distant, symbolic composition, with Jesus in the center and two unnamed criminals on either side. Keep the scene solemn and non-graphic.
Talk together
Talk about it
- What do the three crosses help us remember?
- Where do you see mercy and hope in this account?
For families, church, and class
Use this page
Use this page with Luke 23:32–33 and, for the wider story, Luke 23:26–49. It is best suited for older children with caring adult guidance. Keep discussion gentle, avoid graphic explanations, and allow children to express questions or sadness. Emphasize the passage’s themes of mercy, repentance, hope, mourning, and Jesus’ identity as king.
Source note
From this passage
Luke 23:32-33 · The Crucifixion in Luke
At the place called The Skull, three crosses stand in a distant, symbolic composition, with Jesus in the center and two unnamed criminals on either side. Keep the scene solemn and non-graphic.
