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Jesus Dies on Calvary
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The Agony of Christ’s Mother
At the place of execution, the two thieves wrestled in the hands
of those who placed them on the cross, but Jesus did not resist.
His mother, supported by John, had followed her Son’s steps to
Calvary. She had longed to place a supporting hand beneath His
wounded head. But she was not permitted this sad privilege. She
still cherished the hope that Jesus would deliver Himself from His
enemies. Again her heart would sink as she recalled how He had
foretold the very scenes 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 allow
Himself to be crucified? Must she give up her faith that He was the
Messiah? She saw His hands stretched on the cross. The soldiers
brought the hammer and nails, and as they drove the spikes through
the tender flesh, the disciples bore the fainting form of the mother of
Jesus away from the cruel scene.
The Savior made no complaint, but great drops of sweat stood
on His brow. There was no pitying hand to wipe the death dew from
His face, no words of sympathy and loyalty to encourage His human
heart. While the soldiers were doing their fearful work, Jesus prayed,
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“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” His mind
passed from His own suffering to the terrible retribution that would
be theirs. He did not call down any curses on the soldiers who were
handling Him so roughly. He invoked no vengeance on the priests
and rulers. He breathed only a plea for their forgiveness—“they do
not know what they do.”
But their ignorance did not remove their guilt, for it was their
privilege to know and accept Jesus as their Savior. Some would yet
see their sin and would repent and be converted. Some by refusing
to repent would make it impossible for the prayer of Christ to be
answered for them. Yet just the same, God’s purpose was reaching
its fulfillment. Jesus was earning the right to become the One who
pleads our case in the Father’s presence.
That prayer of Christ for His enemies took in every sinner from
the beginning of the world to the end of time. The guilt of crucifying
the Son of God rests on us all. To all, Jesus freely offers forgiveness.