the desire of ages-第165节

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dying　anguish；　had　hidden　its　face　of　light。　The　rocks　had　known　Him；　and　had　shivered　into　fragments　at　His　cry。　Inanimate　nature　had　known　Christ；　and　had　borne　witness　to　His　divinity。　But　the　priests　and　rulers　of　Israel　knew　not　the　Son　of　God。

Yet　the　priests　and　rulers　were　not　at　rest。　They　had　carried　out　their　purpose　in　putting　Christ　to　death；　but　they　did　not　feel　the　sense　of　victory　they　had　expected。　Even　in　the　hour　of　their　apparent　triumph；　they　were　harassed　with　doubts　as　to　what　would　next　take　place。　They　had　heard　the　cry；　〃It　is　finished。〃　〃Father；　into　Thy　hands　I　commend　My　spirit。〃　John　19：30；　Luke　23：46。　They　had　seen　the　rocks　rent；　and　had　felt　the　mighty　earthquake；　and　they　were　restless　and　uneasy。

They　had　been　jealous　of　Christ's　influence　with　the　people　when　living；　they　were　jealous　of　Him　even　in　death。　They　dreaded　the　dead　Christ　more；　far　more；　than　they　had　ever　feared　the　living　Christ。　They　dreaded　to　have　the　attention　of　the　people　directed　any　further　to　the　events　attending　His　crucifixion。　They　feared　the　results　of　that　day's　work。　Not　on　any　account　would　they　have　had　His　body　remain　on　the　cross　during　the　Sabbath。　The　Sabbath　was　now　drawing　on；　and　it　would　be　a　violation　of　its　sanctity　for　the　bodies　to　hang　upon　the　cross。　So；　using　this　as　a　pretext；　the　leading　Jews　requested　Pilate　that　the　death　of　the　victims　might　be　hastened；　and　their　bodies　be　removed　before　the　setting　of　the　sun。

Pilate　was　as　unwilling　as　they　for　the　body　of　Jesus　to　remain　upon　the　cross。　His　consent　having　been　obtained；　the　legs　of　the　two　thieves　were　broken　to　hasten　their　death；　but　Jesus　was　found　to　be　already　dead。　The　rude　soldiers　had　been　softened　by　what　they　had　heard　and　seen　of　Christ；　and　they　were　restrained　from　breaking　His　limbs。　Thus　in　the　offering　of　the　Lamb　of　God　was　fulfilled　the　law　of　the　Passover；　〃They　shall　leave　none　of　it　unto　the　morning；　nor　break　any　bone　of　it：　according　to　all　the　ordinances　of　the　Passover　they　shall　keep　it。〃　Num。　9：12

The　priests　and　rulers　were　amazed　to　find　that　Christ　was　dead。　Death　by　the　cross　was　a　lingering　process；　it　was　difficult　to　determine

772

when　life　had　ceased。　It　was　an　unheard…of　thing　for　one　to　die　within　six　hours　of　crucifixion。　The　priests　wished　to　make　sure　of　the　death　of　Jesus；　and　at　their　suggestion　a　soldier　thrust　a　spear　into　the　Saviour's　side。　From　the　wound　thus　made；　there　flowed　two　copious　and　distinct　streams；　one　of　blood；　the　other　of　water。　This　was　noted　by　all　the　beholders；　and　John　states　the　occurrence　very　definitely。　He　says；　〃One　of　the　soldiers　with　a　spear　pierced　His　side；　and　forthwith　came　there　out　blood　and　water。　And　he　that　saw　it　bare　record；　and　his　record　is　true：　and　he　knoweth　that　he　saith　true；　that　ye　might　believe。　For　these　things　were　done；　that　the　scripture　should　be　fulfilled；　A　bone　of　Him　shall　not　be　broken。　And　again　another　scripture　saith；　They　shall　look　on　Him　whom　they　pierced。〃　John　19：34…37。

After　the　resurrection　the　priests　and　rulers　circulated　the　report　that　Christ　did　not　die　upon　the　cross；　that　He　merely　fainted；　and　was　afterward　revived。　Another　report　affirmed　that　it　was　not　a　real　body　of　flesh　and　bone；　but　the　likeness　of　a　body；　that　was　laid　in　the　tomb。　The　action　of　the　Roman　soldiers　disproves　these　falsehoods。　They　broke　not　His　legs；　because　He　was　already　dead。　To　satisfy　the　priests；　they　pierced　His　side。　Had　not　life　been　already　extinct；　this　wound　would　have　caused　instant　death。

But　it　was　not　the　spear　thrust；　it　was　not　the　pain　of　the　cross；　that　caused　the　death　of　Jesus。　That　cry；　uttered　〃with　a　loud　voice〃　（Matt。　27：50；　Luke　23：46）；　at　the　moment　of　death；　the　stream　of　blood　and　water　that　flowed　from　His　side；　declared　that　He　died　of　a　broken　heart。　His　heart　was　broken　by　mental　anguish。　He　was　slain　by　the　sin　of　the　world。

With　the　death　of　Christ　the　hopes　of　His　disciples　perished。　They　looked　upon　His　closed　eyelids　and　drooping　head；　His　hair　matted　with　blood；　His　pierced　hands　and　feet；　and　their　anguish　was　indescribable。　Until　the　last　they　had　not　believed　that　He　would　die；　they　could　hardly　believe　that　He　was　really　dead。　Overwhelmed　with　sorrow；　they　did　not　recall　His　words　foretelling　this　very　scene。　Nothing　that　He　had　said　now　gave　them　comfort。　They　saw　only　the　cross　and　its　bleeding　Victim。　The　future　seemed　dark　with　despair。　Their　faith　in　Jesus　had　perished；　but　never　had　they　loved　their　Lord　as　now。　Never　before　had　they　so　felt　His　worth；　and　their　need　of　His　presence。

Even　in　death；　Christ's　body　was　very　precious　to　His　disciples。　They　longed　to　give　Him　an　honored　burial；　but　knew　not　how　to　accomplish

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this。　Treason　against　the　Roman　government　was　the　crime　for　which　Jesus　was　condemned；　and　persons　put　to　death　for　this　offense　were　consigned　to　a　burial　ground　especially　provided　for　such　criminals。　The　disciple　John　with　the　women　from　Galilee　had　remained　at　the　cross。　They　could　not　leave　the　body　of　their　Lord　to　be　handled　by　the　unfeeling　soldiers；　and　buried　in　a　dishonored　grave。　Yet　they　could　not　prevent　it。　They　could　obtain　no　favors　from　the　Jewish　authorities；　and　they　had　no　influence　with　Pilate。

In　this　emergency；　Joseph　of　Arimathaea　and　Nicodemus　came　to　the　help　of　the　disciples。　Both　these　men　were　members　of　the　Sanhedrin；　and　were　acquainted　with　Pilate。　Both　were　men　of　wealth　and　influence。　They　were　determined　that　the　body　of　Jesus　should　have　an　honorable　burial。

Joseph　went　boldly　to　Pilate；　and　begged　from　him　the　body　of　Jesus。　For　the　first　time；　Pilate　learned　that　Jesus　was　really　dead。　Conflicting　reports　had　reached　him　in　regard　to　the　events　attending　the　crucifixion；　but　the　knowledge　of　Christ's　death　had　been　purposely　kept　from　him。　Pilate　had　been　warned　by　the　priests　and　rulers　against　deception　by　Christ's　disciples　in　regard　to　His　body。　Upon　hearing　Joseph's　request；　he　therefore　sent　for　the　centurion　who　had　charge　at　the　cross；　and　learned　for　a　certainty　of　the　death　of　Jesus。　He　also　drew　from　him　an　account　of　the　scenes　of　Calvary；　confirming　the　testimony　of　Joseph。

The　request　of　Joseph　was　granted。　While　John　was　troubled　about　the　burial　of　his　Master；　Joseph　returned　with　Pilate's　order　for　the　body　of　Christ；　and　Nicodemus　came　bringing　a　costly　mixture　of　myrrh　and　aloes；　of　about　a　hundred　pounds'　weight；　for　His　embalming。　The　most　honored　in　all　Jerusalem　could　not　have　been　shown　more　respect　in　death。　The　disciples　were　astonished　to　see　these　wealthy　rulers　as　much　interested　as　they　themselves　in　the　burial　of　their　Lord。

Neither　Joseph　nor　Nicodemus　had　openly　accepted　the　Saviour　while　He　was　living。　They　knew　that　such　a　step　would　exclude　them　from　the　Sanhedrin；　and　they　hoped　to　protect　Him　by　their　influence　in　its　councils。　For　a　time　they　had　seemed　to　succeed；　but　the　wily　priests；　seeing　their　favor　to　Christ；　had　thwarted　their　plans。　In　their　absence　Jesus　had　been　condemned　and　delivered　to　be　crucified。　Now　that　He　was　dead；　they　no　longer　concealed　their　attachment　to　Him。　While　the　disciples　feared　to　show　themselves　openly　as　His　followers；

774

Joseph　and　Nicodemus　came　boldly　to　their　aid。　The　help　of　these　rich　and　honored　men　was　greatly　needed　at　this　time。　They　could　do　for　their　dead　Master　what　it　was　impossible　for　the　poor　disciples　to　do；　and　their　wealth　and　influence　protected　them；　in　a　great　measure；　from　the　malice　of　the　priests　and　rulers。

Gently　and　reverently　they　removed　with　their　own　hands　the　body　of　Jesus　from　the　cross。　Their　tears　of　sympathy　fell　fast　as　they　looked　upon　His　bruised　and　lacerated　form。　Joseph　owned　a　new　tomb；　hewn　in　a　rock。　This　he　was　reserving　for　himself；　but　it　was　near　Calvary；　and　he　now　prepared　it　for　Jesus。　The　body；　together　with　the　spices　brought　by　Nicodemus；　was　carefully　wrapped　in　a　linen　sheet；　and　the　Redeemer　was　borne　to　the　tomb。　There　the　three　disciples　straightened　the　mangled　limbs；　and　folded　the　bruised　hands　upon　the　pulseless　breast。　The　Galilean　women　came　to　see　that　all　had　been　done　that　could　be　done　for　the　lifeless　form　of　their　beloved　Teacher。　Then　they　saw　the　heavy　stone　rolled　against　the　entrance　of　the　tomb；　and　the　Saviour　was　left　at　rest。　The　women　were　last　at　the　cross；　and　last　at　the　tomb　of　Christ。　While　the　evening　shades　were　gathering；　Mary　Magdalene　and　the　other　Marys　lingered　about　the　resting　place　of　their　Lord；　shedding　tears　of　sorrow　over　the　fate　of　Him　whom　they　loved。　〃And　they　returned；　。　。　。　and　rested　the　Sabbath　day　according　to　the　commandment。〃　Luke　23：56。

That　was　a　never…to…be…forgotten　Sabbath　to　the　sorrowing　disciples；　and　also　to　the　priests；　rulers；　scribes；　and　people。　At　the　setting　of　the　sun　on　the　evening　of　the　preparation　day　the　trumpets　sounded；　signifying　that　the　Sabbath　had　begun。　The　Passover　was　observed　as　it　had　been　for　centuries；　while　He　to　whom　it　pointed　had　been　slain　by　wicked　hands；　and　lay　in　Joseph's　tomb。　On　the　Sabbath　the　courts　of　the　temple　were　filled　with　worshipers。　The　high　priest　from　Golgotha　was　there；　spl