The sufferer above was calm and silent. Only His lambent eyes spoke, spoke to those invisible powers hovering around Him in the final hour.
Beneath His cross the soldiers were casting lots for His garments--the priests were exulting--the brute cynicism was watching with wolfish greed for the victim to fall into its clutches, while shouting with jeering mocking: If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross!
He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him!--
"Thou that destroyest the temple and buildest it in three days, save thyself. Show thy power, proud King of the Jews!"
The tortured sufferer painfully turned His head.
"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.--"
Then one of the malefactors, even in his own death agony, almost mocked Him, but the other rebuked him; "We receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss!" Then he added beseechingly: "Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom."
Christ made the noble answer: "Verily I say unto thee, to-day shalt thou be with me in paradise."
There was a fresh roar of mockery from the Pharisees. "He cannot save himself, yet promises the kingdom of heaven to others."
But the Saviour no longer heard, His senses were failing; He bent His head toward Mary and John. "Woman, behold thy son! Son, behold thy mother!"