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The Crucifixion of Christ
The Son of God was delivered to the people to be crucified; with
shouts of triumph they led the dear Saviour away. He was weak and
faint from weariness, pain, and loss of blood by the scourging and
blows which He had received; yet the heavy cross upon which He
was soon to be nailed was laid upon Him. Jesus fainted beneath
the burden. Three times the cross was placed upon His shoulders,
and three times He fainted. One of His followers, a man who had
not openly professed faith in Christ, yet believed on Him, was next
seized. Upon him the cross was laid, and he bore it to the fatal spot.
Companies of angels were marshaled in the air above the place. A
number of Christ’s disciples followed Him to Calvary, in sorrow,
and with bitter weeping. They called to mind His triumphal ride
into Jerusalem but a few days before, when they had followed Him,
crying, “Hosanna in the highest!” and strewing their garments and
the beautiful palm branches in the way. They had thought that He
was then to take the kingdom and reign a temporal prince over Israel.
How changed the scene! How blighted their prospects! Not with
rejoicing, not with cheerful hopes, but with hearts stricken with fear
and despair they now slowly, sadly followed Him who had been
disgraced and humbled, and who was about to die.
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The mother of Jesus was there. Her heart was pierced with an-
guish such as none but a fond mother can feel; yet, with the disciples,
she still hoped that Christ would work some mighty miracle and de-
liver Himself from His murderers. She could not endure the thought
that He would suffer Himself to be crucified. But the preparations
were made, and Jesus was laid upon the cross. The hammer and
the nails were brought. The hearts of the disciples fainted within
them. The mother of Jesus was bowed with agony almost beyond
endurance. Before the Saviour was nailed to the cross, the disciples
bore her from the scene, that she might not hear the crashing of
the spikes as they were driven through the bone and muscle of His
tender hands and feet. Jesus murmured not, but groaned in agony.
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