With what intense interest did they follow the closing scenes of the conflict.
They beheld the Savior enter the garden of Gethsemane,
His soul bowed down with the horror of a great darkness.
They heard His bitter cry, "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me." Matthew 26:39.
As the Father's presence was withdrawn, they saw Him sorrowful with a bitterness of sorrow exceeding that of the last great struggle with death.
--The bloody sweat was forced from His pores, and fell in drops
upon the ground.
--Thrice the prayer for deliverance was wrung from His lips.
--Heaven could no longer endure the sight, and a messenger of comfort was sent to the Son of God.
Heaven beheld the Victim betrayed into the hands of the murderous mob, and with mockery and violence hurried from one tribunal to another.
Heaven viewed with grief and amazement Christ hanging upon the cross, blood flowing from His wounded temples, and sweat tinged with blood standing upon His brow.
Heaven beheld the Victim betrayed into the hands of the murderous mob, and with mockery and violence hurried from one tribunal to another.
Heaven viewed with grief and amazement Christ hanging upon the cross, blood flowing from His wounded temples, and sweat tinged with blood standing upon His brow.
--From His hands and feet the blood fell, drop by drop, upon the rock drilled for the foot of the cross.
--The wounds made by the nails gaped as the weight of His body dragged upon His hands.
--His labored breath grew quick and deep, as His soul panted under the burden of the sins of the world.
All heaven was filled with wonder when the prayer of Christ was offered in the midst of His terrible suffering,—"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34.
Yet there stood men, formed in the image of God, joining to crush out the life of His only-begotten Son.
What a sight for the heavenly universe!"
E.G.W.
