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Jesus Dies on Calvary
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Simon’s sons were believers in the Saviour, but he himself was
not. Bearing the cross to Calvary was a blessing to Simon. It led
him to take the cross of Christ from choice and ever cheerfully stand
beneath its burden.
Not a few women were in the crowd that followed the Uncon-
demned to His cruel death. Some had carried to Him their sick and
suffering ones. Some had themselves been healed. They wondered
at the hatred of the crowd toward Him. And notwithstanding the an-
gry words of priests and rulers, as Jesus fell beneath the cross these
women broke forth into wailing. This attracted Christ’s attention.
He knew that they were not lamenting Him as one sent from God,
but He did not despise their sympathy. It awakened in His heart
a deeper sympathy for them. “Daughters of Jerusalem,” He said,
“weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.”
Christ looked forward to the time of Jerusalem’s destruction when
many who were now weeping for Him were to perish with their
children.
A Wider Judgment
From the fall of Jerusalem the thoughts of Jesus passed to a wider
judgment. In the destruction of the impenitent city He saw a symbol
of the final destruction to come on the world: “Then shall they begin
to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if
they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?”
The green tree represented Himself, the innocent Redeemer. God’s
wrath against transgression fell on His beloved Son. What suffering,
then, would the sinner bear who continued in sin? The impenitent
would know a sorrow that language would fail to express.
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Of the multitude that followed the Saviour to Calvary, many
had attended Him with hosannas and palm branches as He rode
triumphantly into Jerusalem. Not a few who then shouted His praise
because it was popular, now swelled the cry, “Crucify Him!” When
Christ rode into Jerusalem, the disciples pressed close about Him,
feeling that it was a high honor to be connected with Him. Now in
His humiliation they followed Him at a distance.