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was not what he claimed to be; and others, with disappointed hopes
and sorrowful hearts, searched for convincing proof that he was the
Messiah. Though searching with different objects in view, they were
all convicted of the same truth—that prophecy had been fulfilled in
the events of the past few days, and that the crucified one was indeed
the world’s Redeemer.
The priests who ministered before the altar had gloomy presen-
timents as they looked upon the vail, rent by unseen hands from top
to bottom, and which there had not been time to replace or to fully
repair. The uncovering of the sacred mysteries of the most holy place
brought to them a shuddering dread of coming calamity. Many of the
officiating priests were deeply convicted of the true character of Jesus;
their searching of the prophecies had not been in vain, and after he
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was raised from the dead they acknowledged him as the Son of God.
The faith of the disciples was clouded with doubt. They were
too thoroughly perplexed and uncertain to recall the words of Jesus,
warning them beforehand of the things which would take place. They
were indeed as sheep scattered without a shepherd. But they had never
loved their Lord as now. They had never felt his worth and their need
of him as when they were deprived of his society.
Nicodemus, when he saw Jesus lifted upon the cross, remembered
his words in that private interview at night in the mountains. On
that Sabbath, while Christ lay silent in the grave, he had a favorable
opportunity for reflection. A clearer light now illuminated his mind
and the words which Jesus had addressed to him were no longer
mysterious. He felt that he had lost much by not connecting himself
with Jesus while he was upon earth. When the Saviour was lifted upon
the cross, Nicodemus remembered that he had told him that the Son of
man should be lifted up as the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness.
The prayer of Christ for his murderers, and his answer to the petition
of the dying thief, while he himself was suffering the excruciating
tortures of a death upon the cross, spoke with powerful distinctness to
the heart of the learned councilor. And that last cry: “It is finished,”
spoken like the words of a conqueror, together with the reeling earth,
the darkened heavens, the rent vail, the shivered rocks, forever settled
the faith of Nicodemus.
Joseph had believed on Jesus, though he had kept silent. Now all
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the fears of both these men were overcome by the courage of a firm and