Calvary
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to try the soul of man to the uttermost. Christ had not failed. He
had spoken no word but that tended to glorify God. All through the
disgraceful farce of a trial He had borne Himself with firmness and
dignity. But when after the second scourging the cross was laid upon
Him, human nature could bear no more. He fell fainting beneath the
burden.
The crowd that followed the Saviour saw His weak and staggering
steps, but they manifested no compassion. They taunted and reviled
Him because He could not carry the heavy cross. Again the burden
was laid upon Him, and again He fell fainting to the ground. His perse-
cutors saw that it was impossible for Him to carry His burden farther.
They were puzzled to find anyone who would bear the humiliating
load. The Jews themselves could not do this, because the defilement
would prevent them from keeping the Passover. None even of the mob
that followed Him would stoop to bear the cross.
At this time a stranger, Simon a Cyrenian, coming in from the
country, meets the throng. He hears the taunts and ribaldry of the
crowd; he hears the words contemptuously repeated, Make way for
the King of the Jews! He stops in astonishment at the scene; and as he
expresses his compassion, they seize him and place the cross upon his
shoulders.
Simon had heard of Jesus. His sons were believers in the Saviour,
but he himself was not a disciple. The bearing of the cross to Calvary
was a blessing to Simon, and he was ever after grateful for this provi-
dence. It led him to take upon himself the cross of Christ from choice,
and ever cheerfully stand beneath its burden.
Not a few women are in the crowd that follow the Uncondemned to
His cruel death. Their attention is fixed upon Jesus. Some of them have
seen Him before. Some have carried to Him their sick and suffering
ones. Some have themselves been healed. The story of the scenes that
have taken place is related. They wonder at the hatred of the crowd
toward Him for whom their own hearts are melting and ready to break.
[743]
And notwithstanding the action of the maddened throng, and the angry
words of the priests and rulers, these women give expression to their
sympathy. As Jesus falls fainting beneath the cross, they break forth
into mournful wailing.
This was the only thing that attracted Christ’s attention. Although
full of suffering, while bearing the sins of the world, He was not