Calvary
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followed the steps of her Son to Calvary. She had seen Him fainting
under the burden of the cross, and had longed to place a supporting
hand beneath His wounded head, and to bathe that brow which had
once been pillowed upon her bosom. But she was not permitted this
mournful privilege. With the disciples she still cherished the hope
that Jesus would manifest His power, and deliver Himself from His
enemies. Again her heart would sink as she recalled the words in
which He had foretold the very scenes that were then taking place.
As the thieves were bound to the cross, she looked on with agonizing
suspense. Would He who had given life to the dead suffer Himself
to be crucified? Would the Son of God suffer Himself to be thus
cruelly slain? Must she give up her faith that Jesus was the Messiah?
Must she witness His shame and sorrow, without even the privilege of
ministering to Him in His distress? She saw His hands stretched upon
the cross; the hammer and the nails were brought, and as the spikes
were driven through the tender flesh, the heart-stricken disciples bore
away from the cruel scene the fainting form of the mother of Jesus.
The Saviour made no murmur of complaint. His face remained
calm 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. While the
soldiers were doing their fearful work, Jesus prayed for His enemies,
“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” His mind
passed from His own suffering to the sin of His persecutors, and the
terrible retribution that would be theirs. No curses were called down
upon the soldiers who were handling Him so roughly. No vengeance
was invoked upon the priests and rulers, who were gloating over the
accomplishment of their purpose. Christ pitied them in their ignorance
and guilt. He breathed only a plea for their forgiveness,—“for they
know not what they do.”
Had they known that they were putting to torture One who had
come to save the sinful race from eternal ruin, they would have been
seized with remorse and horror. But their ignorance did not remove
their guilt; for it was their privilege to know and accept Jesus as their
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Saviour. Some of them would yet see their sin, and repent, and be
converted. Some by their impenitence would make it an impossibility
for the prayer of Christ to be answered for them. Yet, just the same,