按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
iples forsake Him and flee。 He had been taken to Annas； then to Caiaphas； and then to Pilate。 From Pilate He had been sent to Herod； then sent again to Pilate。 From insult to renewed insult； from mockery to mockery； twice tortured by the scourge；all that night there had been scene after scene of a character to try the soul of man to the uttermost。 Christ had not failed。 He had spoken no word but that tended to glorify God。 All through the disgraceful farce of a trial He had borne Himself with firmness and dignity。 But when after the second scourging the cross was laid upon Him； human nature could bear no more。 He fell fainting beneath the burden。
The crowd that followed the Saviour saw His weak and staggering steps； but they manifested no compassion。 They taunted and reviled Him because He could not carry the heavy cross。 Again the burden was laid upon Him； and again He fell fainting to the ground。 His persecutors saw that it was impossible for Him to carry His burden farther。 They were puzzled to find anyone who would bear the humiliating load。 The Jews themselves could not do this； because the defilement would prevent them from keeping the Passover。 None even of the mob that followed Him would stoop to bear the cross。
At this time a stranger； Simon a Cyrenian； coming in from the country； meets the throng。 He hears the taunts and ribaldry of the crowd； he hears the words contemptuously repeated； Make way for the King of the Jews！ He stops in astonishment at the scene； and as he expresses his compassion； they seize him and place the cross upon his shoulders。
Simon had heard of Jesus。 His sons were believers in the Saviour； but he himself was not a disciple。 The bearing of the cross to Calvary was a blessing to Simon； and he was ever after grateful for this providence。 It led him to take upon himself the cross of Christ from choice； and ever cheerfully stand beneath its burden。
Not a few women are in the crowd that follow the Uncondemned to His cruel death。 Their attention is fixed upon Jesus。 Some of them have seen Him before。 Some have carried to Him their sick and suffering ones。 Some have themselves been healed。 The story of the scenes that have taken place is related。 They wonder at the hatred of the crowd toward Him for whom their own hearts are melting and ready to break。
743
And notwithstanding the action of the maddened throng； and the angry words of the priests and rulers； these women give expression to their sympathy。 As Jesus falls fainting beneath the cross； they break forth into mournful wailing。
This was the only thing that attracted Christ's attention。 Although full of suffering； while bearing the sins of the world； He was not indifferent to the expression of grief。 He looked upon these women with tender compassion。 They were not believers in Him； He knew that they were not lamenting Him as one sent from God； but were moved by feelings of human pity。 He did not despise their sympathy； but it awakened in His heart a deeper sympathy for them。 〃Daughters of Jerusalem；〃 He said； 〃weep not for Me； but weep for yourselves； and for your children。〃 From the scene before Him； Christ looked forward to the time of Jerusalem's destruction。 In that terrible scene； many of those who were now weeping for Him were to perish with their children。
From the fall of Jerusalem the thoughts of Jesus passed to a wider judgment。 In the destruction of the impenitent city He saw a symbol of the final destruction to come upon the world。 He said； 〃Then shall they begin to say to the mountains； Fall on us； and to the hills； Cover us。 For if they do these things in a green tree； what shall be done in the dry？〃 By the green tree； Jesus represented Himself； the innocent Redeemer。 God suffered His wrath against transgression to fall on His beloved Son。 Jesus was to be crucified for the sins of men。 What suffering； then； would the sinner bear who continued in sin？ All the impenitent and unbelieving would know a sorrow and misery that language would fail to express。
Of the multitude that followed the Saviour to Calvary； many had attended Him with joyful hosannas and the waving of palm branches as He rode triumphantly into Jerusalem。 But not a few who had then shouted His praise； because it was popular to do so； now swelled the cry of 〃Crucify Him； crucify Him。〃 When Christ rode into Jerusalem； the hopes of the disciples had been raised to the highest pitch。 They had pressed close about their Master； feeling that it was a high honor to be connected with Him。 Now in His humiliation they followed Him at a distance。 They were filled with grief； and bowed down with disappointed hopes。 How were the words of Jesus verified： 〃All ye shall be offended because of Me this night： for it is written； I will smite the shepherd； and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad。〃 Matt。 26：31。
744
Arriving at the place of execution； the prisoners were bound to the instruments of torture。 The two thieves wrestled in the hands of those who placed them on the cross； but Jesus made no resistance。 The mother of Jesus； supported by John the beloved disciple； had followed the steps of her Son to Calvary。 She had seen Him fainting under the burden of the cross； and had longed to place a supporting hand beneath His wounded head； and to bathe that brow which had once been pillowed upon her bosom。 But she was not permitted this mournful privilege。 With the disciples she still cherished the hope that Jesus would manifest His power； and deliver Himself from His enemies。 Again her heart would sink as she recalled the words in which He had foretold the very scenes that were then taking place。 As the thieves were bound to the cross； she looked on with agonizing suspense。 Would He who had given life to the dead suffer Himself to be crucified？ Would the Son of God suffer Himself to be thus cruelly slain？ Must she give up her faith that Jesus was the Messiah？ Must she witness His shame and sorrow； without even the privilege of ministering to Him in His distress？ She saw His hands stretched upon the cross； the hammer and the nails were brought； and as the spikes were driven through the tender flesh； the heart…stricken disciples bore away from the cruel scene the fainting form of the mother of Jesus。
The Saviour made no murmur of complaint。 His face remained calm and serene； but great drops of sweat stood upon His brow。 There was no pitying hand to wipe the death dew from His face； nor words of sympathy and unchanging fidelity to stay His human heart。 While the soldiers were doing their fearful work； Jesus prayed for His enemies； 〃Father； forgive them； for they know not what they do。〃 His mind passed from His own suffering to the sin of His persecutors； and the terrible retribution that would be theirs。 No curses were called down upon the soldiers who were handling Him so roughly。 No vengeance was invoked upon the priests and rulers； who were gloating over the accomplishment of their purpose。 Christ pitied them in their ignorance and guilt。 He breathed only a plea for their forgiveness；〃for they know not what they do。〃
Had they known that they were putting to torture One who had come to save the sinful race from eternal ruin； they would have been seized with remorse and horror。 But their ignorance did not remove their guilt； for it was their privilege to know and accept Jesus as their
745
Saviour。 Some of them would yet see their sin； and repent； and be converted。 Some by their impenitence would make it an impossibility for the prayer of Christ to be answered for them。 Yet； just the same； God's purpose was reaching its fulfillment。 Jesus was earning the right to become the advocate of men in the Father's presence。
That prayer of Christ for His enemies embraced the world。 It took in every sinner that had lived or should live； from the beginning of the world to the end of time。 Upon all rests the guilt of crucifying the Son of God。 To all； forgiveness is freely offered。 〃Whosoever will〃 may have peace with God； and inherit eternal life。
As soon as Jesus was nailed to the cross； it was lifted by strong men； and with great violence thrust into the place prepared for it。 This caused the most intense agony to the Son of God。 Pilate then wrote an inscription in Hebrew； Greek； and Latin； and placed it upon the cross； above the head of Jesus。 It read； 〃Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews。〃 This inscription irritated the Jews。 In Pilate's court they had cried； 〃Crucify Him。〃 〃We have no king but Caesar。〃 John 19：15。 They had declared that whoever should acknowledge any other king was a traitor。 Pilate wrote out the sentiment they had expressed。 No offense was mentioned； except that Jesus was the King of the Jews。 The inscription was a virtual acknowledgment of the allegiance of the Jews to the Roman power。 It declared that whoever might claim to be the King of Israel would be judged by them worthy of death。 The priests had overreached themselves。 When they were plotting the death of Christ； Caiaphas had declared it expedient that one man should die to save the nation。 Now their hypocrisy was revealed。 In order