Chapter 9—The Crucifixion of Christ
The Son of God was delivered to the people to be crucified. They
led the dear Saviour away. He was weak and feeble through pain and
suffering, caused by the scourging and blows which he had received,
yet they laid on him the heavy cross upon which they were soon to
nail him. But Jesus fainted beneath the burden. Three times they
laid on him the heavy cross, and three times he fainted. They then
seized one of his followers, a man who had not openly professed
faith in Christ, yet believed on him. They laid on him the cross, and
he bore it to the fatal spot. Companies of angels were marshaled in
the air above the place. A number of his disciples followed him to
Calvary in sorrow, and with bitter weeping. They called to mind Jesus’
riding triumphantly into Jerusalem, and they following him, crying,
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Hosanna in the highest! and strewing their garments in the way, and
the beautiful palm branches. They thought that he was then to take
the kingdom and reign a temporal prince over Israel. How changed
the scene! How blighted their prospects! They followed Jesus; not
with rejoicing; not with bounding hearts and cheerful hopes; but with
hearts stricken with fear and despair they slowly, sadly followed him
who had been disgraced and humbled, and who was about to die.
The mother of Jesus was there. Her heart was pierced with anguish,
such as none but a fond mother can feel. Her stricken heart still hoped,
with the disciples, that her Son would work some mighty miracle, and
deliver himself from his murderers. She could not endure the thought
that he would suffer himself to be crucified. But the preparations were
made, and they laid Jesus upon the cross. The hammer and the nails
were brought. The heart of his disciples fainted within them. The
mother of Jesus was agonized, almost beyond endurance, and as they
stretched Jesus upon the cross, and were about to fasten his hands with
the cruel nails to the wooden arms, the disciples bore the mother of
Jesus from the scene, that she might not hear the crashing of the nails,
as they were driven through the bone and muscle of his tender hands
and feet. Jesus murmured not; but groaned in agony. His face was
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