LESSON XXXIX.
THE CROSS—PART I.
Luke, xxiii. 26-34.
The wicked people were very glad when Pilate said Jesus was to be crucified. They made a cross of two great pieces of wood like boards, and made Jesus carry it. They took him out of Jerusalem into the country. The wicked people came with him.
Jesus was so weak that he could hardly walk, and the cross was so heavy that he could not carry it. He would have dropped down on the way, if a man had not helped him to carry the cross.
There were a few people who were sorry for the Lord Jesus.
Some women, who loved him very much, came crying after him. Jesus heard them crying, and he turned round and spoke very kindly to them.
He said, Do not cry for me; cry for yourselves, and for your children. Why did Jesus tell them to cry for themselves? Ah! Jesus knew how God would one day punish the people in Jerusalem for their wickedness.
At last Jesus came to the top of a hill. Then the soldiers made Jesus lie upon his cross, and they put nails in his hands, and nails in his feet. So they nailed him to the cross. Then the soldiers made a hole in the ground, and stuck the cross in it.
They had taken off Jesus’ clothes; and when he was on the cross four soldiers tore the clothes in four pieces, and each took a piece: but when they looked at his coat they said, We will not tear it, because there is no seam in it; then one of the soldiers took it for his own. So the wicked people took everything away from Jesus.
Was Jesus very angry with them?
No, he was meek as a lamb. He prayed to his Father while he was upon the cross; he could not lift up his hands, but he could speak to God. He prayed for these wicked people, and said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.