4N4. CHRIST CRUCIFIED.

and set up the cross in the ground, | even on the cross. He cried,
and left Him, to hang upon it till | “Father, forgive them, for they
He died. know not what they do. And we
It was usual to give spiced wine | may be sure that the prayer of Jegug
to those who were crucified, to quiet | was not in vain. It was heard and
their pain, and help them to bear it; | answered. Many of those crue]
so some of the people who were | murderers afterwards learnt to be.
with Jesus, gave Him wine mingled | lieve in Jesus; they asked to be
with bitter gall. But when He had | washed from their sing in that
tasted it, He would not drink.| blood which they had helped to
Jesus did not wish His pain to be | shed; and they were pardoned, and
lessened. He was willing to bear it | saved, and now they are rejoicing
all. Then the soldiers took the | with Jesus in Heaven.
raiment of Jesus, and divided it| Pilate wrote a title, and set it up
among themselves, casting lots. | over the cross—“This is Jesus, the
This had been foretold many, many | king of the Jews.” Pilate wrote it
years before. David, speaking of | in mockery; and those who read it
Christ, had said, “ They part my | only laughed, and reviled Jesus the
garments among them, and cast lots | more. Yet the writing was true.
for my vesture.” Psalm xxii. 18.| Jesus was the king of the Jews.
Many of the psalms are prophecies} When the angel told Mary of His
of the sufferings and death of| birth, he said, “God shall give Him
Christ. the throne of His father David.”
Then the soldiers sat down near | The Jews indeed would not receive
the cross, and watched Him tkere. | Him as their king; they said, “We
What a sad sight it was! The holy | will not have this man to reign over
Jesus, who had never done any|us.” But a time is coming when
wrong, hanging upon the cross in | they will receive Him. God says,
pain and sorrow; and his cruel | “They shall be my people, and I
enemies mocking Him, and reviling | will be their God. And David my
Him! Those hard-hearted men / servant (that is the Lord Jesus)
cared nothing for the sufferings of | shall be king over them; He shall
Jesus; yet He cared for them; He| be their prince for ever.” Hzek.
pitied them, and prayed for them, | xxxvii. 28—25,

 

 

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