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it expedient that one man should die to save the nation。 Now their hypocrisy was revealed。 In order to destroy Christ； they had been ready to sacrifice even their national existence。
The priests saw what they had done； and asked Pilate to change the inscription。 They said； 〃Write not； The King of the Jews； but that He said； I am King of the Jews。〃 But Pilate was angry with himself because of his former weakness； and he thoroughly despised the jealous and artful priests and rulers。 He replied coldly； 〃What I have written I have written。〃
A higher power than Pilate or the Jews had directed the placing of that inscription above the head of Jesus。 In the providence of God it was to awaken thought； and investigation of the Scriptures。 The place where Christ was crucified was near to the city。 Thousands of people from all lands were then at Jerusalem； and the inscription declaring Jesus of
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Nazareth the Messiah would come to their notice。 It was a living truth； transcribed by a hand that God had guided。
In the sufferings of Christ upon the cross prophecy was fulfilled。 Centuries before the crucifixion； the Saviour had foretold the treatment He was to receive。 He said； 〃Dogs have compassed Me： the assembly of the wicked have enclosed Me： they pierced My hands and My feet。 I may tell all My bones： they look and stare upon Me。 They part My garments among them； and cast lots upon My vesture。〃 Ps。 22：16…18。 The prophecy concerning His garments was carried out without counsel or interference from the friends or the enemies of the Crucified One。 To the soldiers who had placed Him upon the cross； His clothing was given。 Christ heard the men's contention as they parted the garments among them。 His tunic was woven throughout without seam； and they said； 〃Let us not rend it； but cast lots for it； whose it shall be。〃
In another prophecy the Saviour declared； 〃Reproach hath broken My heart； and I am full of heaviness： and I looked for some to take pity； but there was none； and for comforters； but I found none。 They gave Me also gall for My meat； and in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink。〃 Ps。 69：20； 21。 To those who suffered death by the cross； it was permitted to give a stupefying potion； to deaden the sense of pain。 This was offered to Jesus； but when He had tasted it； He refused it。 He would receive nothing that could becloud His mind。 His faith must keep fast hold upon God。 This was His only strength。 To becloud His senses would give Satan an advantage。
The enemies of Jesus vented their rage upon Him as He hung upon the cross。 Priests； rulers； and scribes joined with the mob in mocking the dying Saviour。 At the baptism and at the transfiguration the voice of God had been heard proclaiming Christ as His Son。 Again； just before Christ's betrayal； the Father had spoken； witnessing to His divinity。 But now the voice from heaven was silent。 No testimony in Christ's favor was heard。 Alone He suffered abuse and mockery from wicked men。
〃If Thou be the Son of God；〃 they said； 〃come down from the cross。〃 〃Let Him save Himself； if He be Christ； the chosen of God。〃 In the wilderness of temptation Satan had declared； 〃If Thou be the Son of God； command that these stones be made bread。〃 〃If Thou be the Son of God； cast Thyself down〃 from the pinnacle of the temple。 Matt。 4：3； 6。 And Satan with his angels； in human form； was present at the
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cross。 The archfiend and his hosts were co…operating with the priests and rulers。 The teachers of the people had stimulated the ignorant mob to pronounce judgment against One upon whom many of them had never looked； until urged to bear testimony against Him。 Priests； rulers； Pharisees； and the hardened rabble were confederated together in a satanic frenzy。 Religious rulers united with Satan and his angels。 They were doing his bidding。
Jesus； suffering and dying； heard every word as the priests declared； 〃He saved others； Himself He cannot save。 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross； that we may see and believe。〃 Christ could have come down from the cross。 But it is because He would not save Himself that the sinner has hope of pardon and favor with God。
In their mockery of the Saviour； the men who professed to be the expounders of prophecy were repeating the very words which Inspiration had foretold they would utter upon this occasion。 Yet in their blindness they did not see that they were fulfilling the prophecy。 Those who in derision uttered the words； 〃He trusted in God； let Him deliver Him now； if He will have Him： for He said； I am the Son of God；〃 little thought that their testimony would sound down the ages。 But although spoken in mockery； these words led men to search the Scriptures as they had never done before。 Wise men heard； searched； pondered； and prayed。 There were those who never rested until； by comparing scripture with scripture； they saw the meaning of Christ's mission。 Never before was there such a general knowledge of Jesus as when He hung upon the cross。 Into the hearts of many who beheld the crucifixion scene； and who heard Christ's words； the light of truth was shining。
To Jesus in His agony on the cross there came one gleam of comfort。 It was the prayer of the penitent thief。 Both the men who were crucified with Jesus had at first railed upon Him； and one under his suffering only became more desperate and defiant。 But not so with his companion。 This man was not a hardened criminal； he had been led astray by evil associations； but he was less guilty than many of those who stood beside the cross reviling the Saviour。 He had seen and heard Jesus； and had been convicted by His teaching； but he had been turned away from Him by the priests and rulers。 Seeking to stifle conviction； he had plunged deeper and deeper into sin； until he was arrested； tried as a criminal； and condemned to die on the cross。 In the judgment hall and on the way to Calvary he had been in company with Jesus。 He had heard Pilate declare； 〃I find no fault in Him。〃 John 19：4。 He had marked His
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godlike bearing； and His pitying forgiveness of His tormentors。 On the cross he sees the many great religionists shoot out the tongue with scorn； and ridicule the Lord Jesus。 He sees the wagging heads。 He hears the upbraiding speeches taken up by his companion in guilt： 〃If Thou be Christ； save Thyself and us。〃 Among the passers…by he hears many defending Jesus。 He hears them repeat His words； and tell of His works。 The conviction comes back to him that this is the Christ。 Turning to his fellow criminal he says； 〃Dost not thou fear God； seeing thou art in the same condemnation？〃 The dying thieves have no longer anything to fear from man。 But upon one of them presses the conviction that there is a God to fear； a future to cause him to tremble。 And now； all sin…polluted as it is； his life history is about to close。 〃And we indeed justly；〃 he moans； 〃for we receive the due reward of our deeds： but this Man hath done nothing amiss。〃
There is no question now。 There are no doubts； no reproaches。 When condemned for his crime； the thief had become hopeless and despairing； but strange； tender thoughts now spring up。 He calls to mind all he has heard of Jesus； how He has healed the sick and pardoned sin。 He has heard the words of those who believed in Jesus and followed Him weeping。 He has seen and read the title above the Saviour's head。 He has heard the passers…by repeat it； some with grieved； quivering lips； others with jesting and mockery。 The Holy Spirit illuminates his mind； and little by little the chain of evidence is joined together。 In Jesus； bruised； mocked； and hanging upon the cross； he sees the Lamb of God； that taketh away the sin of the world。 Hope is mingled with anguish in his voice as the helpless； dying soul casts himself upon a dying Saviour。 〃Lord； remember me；〃 he cries； 〃when Thou comest into Thy kingdom。〃
Quickly the answer came。 Soft and melodious the tone； full of love； compassion； and power the words： Verily I say unto thee today； Thou shalt be with Me in paradise。
For long hours of agony； reviling and mockery have fallen upon the ears of Jesus。 As He hangs upon the cross； there floats up to Him still the sound of jeers and curses。 With longing heart He has listened for some expression of faith from His disciples。 He has heard only the mournful words； 〃We trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel。〃 How grateful then to the Saviour was the utterance of faith and love from the dying thief！ While the leading Jews deny Him； and even the disciples doubt His divinity； the poor thief； upon the
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brink of eternity； calls Jesus Lord。 Many were ready to call Him Lord when He wrought miracles； and after He had risen from the grave； but none acknowledged Him as He hung dying upon the cross save the penitent thief who was saved at the eleventh hour。
The bystanders caught the words as the thief called Jesus Lord。 The tone of the repentant man arrested their attention。 Those who at the foot of the cross had been quarreling over Christ's garments； and casting lots upon His vesture； stopped to listen