The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-06-09
Christ Crucihed.

cruhXlonls a literary marvel. Though
: circumstance of transcendent i'm
portance, the narrative of it is surpris-
ingly condensed. There is no spin
ming out of details, no obtrusion of
the personal opinions and sentiments
Of the narrators.
Here is suggestion of how we our
selves should approach Calvary. 1t
is not a theme for volubility. There
should be no striving to magnify its
painful horrors, or to compare the
physical sufferings of its victim with
those of others. A personal appro-
priation by faith is great riches.
Religious romancists have paved
all the way between the Pr&torium
and Calvary with miraculous Incl
dents. In strong antithesis to this,
the evangelist mentions but two
circumstances. At sight of one on
whose brow innocence and benignity
was stamped led to a shocking death,
the daughters of Jerusalem wept
aloud in pity. Jesus turned, and, as
if with the impending siege in plain
est view, bade them not 10 weep for
Him, but for themselves and their
children. In those awful days, bar
renness, the disgrace of the Hebrew
woman, would be at a premium. For
if such cruel deed as was now being
done was possible, the tree of their
national life yet being green, what
horrors would characterize the extinc-
ton of that life The fainting strength
of Jesus makes the impressing of
some one to bear his cross necessary.
A foreign Jew, recognized as such by
his Libyan garb, is compelled to do
SO. A changed heart was probably
his exceeding great reward. So goes
that most pitifuI procession earth has
ever seen. The centurion, mounted
and in the van; guard in shining ar
NOR, and numerous enough to make
rescue of the victims impossible; the
condemned, with their crimes record
ed in black letters on boards daubed
with gypsum, and hung about their
necks; in the rear, the slaves carrying
refreshments for the soldiers, besides
nails, hammers, ropes, ETC., necessary
for the execution; and back of all,
such a motley, unsavory crowd as a
public execution would draw in our
day.
Following the narrative, we first
have the numbering of Jesus with
transgressors. He was crucified be-
tween the malefactors, the insurgent
robbers and murderers. He who
could challenge the world to impeach
his sinlessness, was made SIM He
was put to the extremity of convict
ed felon.
With the first shedding of his blood
begins his mediatorial prayer, Faith
er, forgive them The inventive
ness of love" finds a palliating cir
cumstance i'll their ignorance. They
know not what they do The pray
er sweeps out to include, not the
coarse executioners alone, but the
cunning conspirators who use them
as their tools.
1t is enough to brand it with infa-
my that destroying vice of gambling,
that it obtruded itself at the crucifx-
ion. The soldiers threw dice, to de-
termine which should have the most
valuable garment of the sufferer.
They CHANGED off" the seamless
robe.
He saved Others Unconscious,
undersigned encomium. Let Him
save Himself" Last recurrence of
the wilderness temptation! That
which is literal possibility is a NOR
al impossibility. Except he stay upon
the cross he cannot be Savior. If
He remains not, He can not utter that
ineffable cry, sit is finished!"-
work the Father gave Me to do"
Keener than mortal pangs are the
brutal gibes of rulers, populace, and
soldiery.
That triple inscription may signify
that the story of the cross is destined
to go into. all languages, as it there
appeared in the tongues of conquest,
culture and colloquy.
The sovereign power Of redeeming
love has splendid complication
even in the deepening gloom of Cal
vary. AS the hours wear away, the
innocence, the d ivinity of his fellow
suffer dawns upon the MUD of the
malefactor. 1t pains him to hear the
continued railing of his comrade in
crime. He chides him, reminding
him of the business of their condem-
nation, and affirming the guiltlessness
of Jesus. To eye of faith there opens
to him blissful vista beyond the
chasm of death. He recognizes the
sufferer, spite of His marred visage as
monarch of that realm. In the
strength of a belief that prompts to
action, he joins his fortunes irrevoca-
bly, with those of the crucified Naza-
rene, and entreats recognition when