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Crucifixion of Christ
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earnest voice, and demanded to know what Jesus had done that He
should be treated as a malefactor. Only a few days before, they
had attended Him with joyful hosannas, and the waving of palm
branches, as He rode triumphantly to Jerusalem. But many who
had then shouted His praise, because it was popular to do so, now
swelled the cry of “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”
Nailed to the Cross
Upon arriving at the place of execution, the condemned were
bound to the instruments of torture. While the two thieves wrestled
in the hands of those who stretched them upon the cross, Jesus
made no resistance. The mother of Jesus looked on with agonizing
suspense, hoping that He would work a miracle to save Himself. She
saw His hands stretched upon the cross—those dear hands that had
ever dispensed blessings, and had been reached forth so many times
to heal the suffering. And now the hammer and nails were brought,
and as the spikes were driven through the tender flesh and fastened
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to the cross, the heart-stricken disciples bore away from the cruel
scene the fainting form of the mother of Christ.
Jesus made no murmur of complaint; His face remained pale
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. He
was treading the winepress all alone; and of all the people there was
none with Him. While the soldiers were doing their fearful work,
and He was enduring the most acute agony, Jesus prayed for His
enemies—“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
Luke 23:34
. That prayer of Christ for His enemies embraced the
world, taking in every sinner who should live, until the end of time.
After Jesus was nailed to the cross, it was lifted by several pow-
erful men and thrust with great violence into the place prepared for
it, causing the most excruciating agony to the Son of God. And
now a terrible scene was enacted. Priests, rulers, and scribes for-
got the dignity of their sacred offices, and joined with the rabble in
mocking and jeering the dying Son of God, saying, “If Thou be the
King of the Jews, save Thyself.”
Luke 23:37
. And some deridingly
repeated among themselves, “He saved others; Himself He cannot