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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 3
the old dread returned that Jesus might even yet escape them, “and one
ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and it on a reed, and gave him
to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take
him down.”
In yielding up his precious life, Christ was not cheered by tri-
umphant joy; all was oppressive gloom. There hung upon the cross
the spotless Lamb of God, his flesh lacerated with stripes and wounds;
those precious hands, that had ever been ready to relieve the oppressed
and suffering, extended upon the cross, and fastened by the cruel nails;
those patient feet, that had traversed weary leagues in the dispensing of
blessings and in teaching the doctrine of salvation to the world, bruised
and spiked to the cross; his royal head wounded by a crown of thorns;
those pale and quivering lips, that had ever been ready to respond to
the plea of suffering humanity, shaped to the mournful words, “My
God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
In silence the people watch for the end of this fearful scene. Again
the sun shines forth; but the cross is enveloped in darkness. Priests
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and rulers look toward Jerusalem; and lo, the dense cloud has settled
upon the city, and over Judah’s plains, and the fierce lightnings of
God’s wrath are directed against the fated city. Suddenly the gloom is
lifted from the cross, and in clear trumpet tones, that seem to resound
throughout creation, Jesus cries, “It is finished;” “Father, into thy
hands I commend my spirit.” A light encircled the cross, and the face
of the Saviour shone with a glory like unto the sun. He then bowed his
head upon his breast, and died.
All the spectators stood paralyzed, and with bated breath gazed
upon the Saviour. Again darkness settled upon the face of the earth,
and a hoarse rumbling like heavy thunder was heard. This was ac-
companied by a violent trembling of the earth. The multitude were
shaken together in heaps, and the wildest confusion and consternation
ensued. In the surrounding mountains, rocks burst asunder with loud
crashing, and many of them came tumbling down the heights to the
plains below. The sepulchers were broken open, and the dead were
cast out of their tombs. Creation seemed to be shivering to atoms.
Priests, rulers, soldiers, and executioners were mute with terror, and
prostrate upon the ground.
The darkness was again lifted from Calvary, and hung like a pall
over Jerusalem. At the moment in which Christ died, there were priests