the desire of ages-第159节

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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。

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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

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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