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A Series of Lessons in Mystic Christianity1040
Jesus, in the meantime, had been cruelly scourged by the barbarous
instruments of torture of the time. His body was lacerated and bleeding,
and He was faint from the torture and loss of blood. Upon His head had
been thrust, in ghastly mockery, a crown of thorns which pressed deep into
His flesh. He was refused the usual respite of several days before sentence
and execution—He was to die that very day.
His cross was tied to His back and He was compelled to carry it, fainting
though He was from fatigue and torture. He staggered along and fell, unable
to bear His heavy burden. Finally Golgotha, the place of the crucifixion, was
reached, and the Man of Sorrows was nailed to the cross and raised aloft
to die a lingering and painful death. On either side was a criminal—two
thieves—His companions in suffering.
He refused to partake of the drug which was granted to criminals to
relieve their intense suffering. He preferred to die in full possession of His
faculties. Above His head was a tablet bearing the inscription, “The King
of the Jews,” which had been placed there by Pilate in a spirit of ironical
mockery of the Jews who had forced him to place this man on the cross.
As the cross was raised into position the Master cried aloud, “O Father,
forgive them—they know not what they do.”
Taunted by the crowds, He hung and suffered the terrible agonies of the
cross. Even one of the crucified criminals reviled Him, asking Him why He
did not save Himself and them? The crowd asked Him why He who saved
others could not save Himself? But He, who could have brought forces to
bear which would have wrought the miracle they demanded, answered not,
but awaited the end.
Then set in the delirium of death in which He cried aloud to the Father,
asking if He had been forsaken in His misery. But the end was near.
There arose a strange storm—darkness fell over the place—weird
electrical disturbances manifested themselves. The winds abated and a
strange quiet fell over all the scene, which was lighted by a ghastly glow.
And then came the earthquake, with strange groanings and moanings of the