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oss had been quarreling over Christ's garments； and casting lots upon His vesture； stopped to listen。 Their angry tones were hushed。 With bated breath they looked upon Christ； and waited for the response from those dying lips。
As He spoke the words of promise； the dark cloud that seemed to enshroud the cross was pierced by a bright and living light。 To the penitent thief came the perfect peace of acceptance with God。 Christ in His humiliation was glorified。 He who in all other eyes appeared to be conquered was a Conqueror。 He was acknowledged as the Sin Bearer。 Men may exercise power over His human body。 They may pierce the holy temples with the crown of thorns。 They may strip from Him His raiment； and quarrel over its division。 But they cannot rob Him of His power to forgive sins。 In dying He bears testimony to His own divinity and to the glory of the Father。 His ear is not heavy that it cannot hear； neither His arm shortened that it cannot save。 It is His royal right to save unto the uttermost all who come unto God by Him。
I say unto thee today； Thou shalt be with Me in Paradise。 Christ did not promise that the thief should be with Him in Paradise that day。 He Himself did not go that day to Paradise。 He slept in the tomb； and on the morning of the resurrection He said； 〃I am not yet ascended to My Father。〃 John 20：17。 But on the day of the crucifixion； the day of apparent defeat and darkness； the promise was given。 〃Today〃 while dying upon the cross as a malefactor； Christ assures the poor sinner； Thou shalt be with Me in Paradise。
The thieves crucified with Jesus were placed 〃on either side one； and Jesus in the midst。〃 This was done by the direction of the priests and rulers。 Christ's position between the thieves was to indicate that He was the greatest criminal of the three。 Thus was fulfilled the scripture； 〃He was numbered with the transgressors。〃 Isa。 53：12。 But the full meaning of their act the priests did not see。 As Jesus； crucified with the thieves； was placed 〃in the midst；〃 so His cross was placed in the midst of a world lying in sin。 And the words of pardon spoken to the penitent thief kindled a light that will shine to the earth's remotest bounds。
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With amazement the angels beheld the infinite love of Jesus； who； suffering the most intense agony of mind and body； thought only of others； and encouraged the penitent soul to believe。 In His humiliation He as a prophet had addressed the daughters of Jerusalem； as priest and advocate He had pleaded with the Father to forgive His murderers； as a loving Saviour He had forgiven the sins of the penitent thief。
As the eyes of Jesus wandered over the multitude about Him； one figure arrested His attention。 At the foot of the cross stood His mother； supported by the disciple John。 She could not endure to remain away from her Son； and John； knowing that the end was near； had brought her again to the cross。 In His dying hour； Christ remembered His mother。 Looking into her grief…stricken face and then upon John； He said to her； 〃Woman； behold thy son！〃 then to John； 〃Behold thy mother！〃 John understood Christ's words； and accepted the trust。 He at once took Mary to his home； and from that hour cared for her tenderly。 O pitiful； loving Saviour； amid all His physical pain and mental anguish； He had a thoughtful care for His mother！ He had no money with which to provide for her comfort； but He was enshrined in the heart of John； and He gave His mother to him as a precious legacy。 Thus He provided for her that which she most needed；the tender sympathy of one who loved her because she loved Jesus。 And in receiving her as a sacred trust； John was receiving a great blessing。 She was a constant reminder of his beloved Master。
The perfect example of Christ's filial love shines forth with undimmed luster from the mist of ages。 For nearly thirty years Jesus by His daily toil had helped bear the burdens of the home。 And now； even in His last agony； He remembers to provide for His sorrowing； widowed mother。 The same spirit will be seen in every disciple of our Lord。 Those who follow Christ will feel that it is a part of their religion to respect and provide for their parents。 From the heart where His love is cherished； father and mother will never fail of receiving thoughtful care and tender sympathy。
And now the Lord of glory was dying； a ransom for the race。 In yielding up His precious life； Christ was not upheld by triumphant joy。 All was oppressive gloom。 It was not the dread of death that weighed upon Him。 It was not the pain and ignominy of the cross that caused His inexpressible agony。 Christ was the prince of sufferers； but His suffering was from a sense of the malignity of sin； a knowledge that
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through familiarity with evil； man had become blinded to its enormity。 Christ saw how deep is the hold of sin upon the human heart； how few would be willing to break from its power。 He knew that without help from God； humanity must perish； and He saw multitudes perishing within reach of abundant help。
Upon Christ as our substitute and surety was laid the iniquity of us all。 He was counted a transgressor； that He might redeem us from the condemnation of the law。 The guilt of every descendant of Adam was pressing upon His heart。 The wrath of God against sin； the terrible manifestation of His displeasure because of iniquity； filled the soul of His Son with consternation。 All His life Christ had been publishing to a fallen world the good news of the Father's mercy and pardoning love。 Salvation for the chief of sinners was His theme。 But now with the terrible weight of guilt He bears； He cannot see the Father's reconciling face。 The withdrawal of the divine countenance from the Saviour in this hour of supreme anguish pierced His heart with a sorrow that can never be fully understood by man。 So great was this agony that His physical pain was hardly felt。
Satan with his fierce temptations wrung the heart of Jesus。 The Saviour could not see through the portals of the tomb。 Hope did not present to Him His coming forth from the grave a conqueror； or tell Him of the Father's acceptance of the sacrifice。 He feared that sin was so offensive to God that Their separation was to be eternal。 Christ felt the anguish which the sinner will feel when mercy shall no longer plead for the guilty race。 It was the sense of sin； bringing the Father's wrath upon Him as man's substitute； that made the cup He drank so bitter； and broke the heart of the Son of God。
With amazement angels witnessed the Saviour's despairing agony。 The hosts of heaven veiled their faces from the fearful sight。 Inanimate nature expressed sympathy with its insulted and dying Author。 The sun refused to look upon the awful scene。 Its full； bright rays were illuminating the earth at midday； when suddenly it seemed to be blotted out。 Complete darkness； like a funeral pall； enveloped the cross。 〃There was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour。〃 There was no eclipse or other natural cause for this darkness； which was as deep as midnight without moon or stars。 It was a miraculous testimony given by God that the faith of after generations might be confirmed。
In that thick darkness God's presence was hidden。 He makes darkness His pavilion； and conceals His glory from human eyes。 God and
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His holy angels were beside the cross。 The Father was with His Son。 Yet His presence was not revealed。 Had His glory flashed forth from the cloud； every human beholder would have been destroyed。 And in that dreadful hour Christ was not to be comforted with the Father's presence。 He trod the wine press alone； and of the people there was none with Him。
In the thick darkness； God veiled the last human agony of His Son。 All who had seen Christ in His suffering had been convicted of His divinity。 That face； once beheld by humanity； was never forgotten。 As the face of Cain expressed his guilt as a murderer； so the face of Christ revealed innocence； serenity； benevolence；the image of God。 But His accusers would not give heed to the signet of heaven。 Through long hours of agony Christ had been gazed upon by the jeering multitude。 Now He was mercifully hidden by the mantle of God。
The silence of the grave seemed to have fallen upon Calvary。 A nameless terror held the throng that was gathered about the cross。 The cursing and reviling ceased in the midst of half…uttered sentences。 Men； women； and children fell prostrate upon the earth。 Vivid lightnings occasionally flashed forth from the cloud； and revealed the cross and the crucified Redeemer。 Priests； rulers； scribes； executioners； and the mob； all thought that their time of retribution had come。 After a while some whispered that Jesus would now come down from the cross。 Some attempted to grope their way back to the city； beating their breasts and wailing in fear。
At the ninth hour the darkness lifted from the people； but still enveloped the Saviour。 It was a symbol of the agony and horror that weighed upon His heart。 No eye could pierce the gloom that surrounded the cross； and none could penetrate the deeper gloom that enshrouded the suffering soul of Christ。 The angry lightnings seemed to be