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The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. Chapter 10—Calvary They hurried Jesus away with loud shouts of triumph; but their noise ceased for a time when they passed a retired place, and saw at the foot of a lifeless tree the dead body of Judas, who had betrayed Christ. It was a most revolting spectacle; his weight had broken the cord by which he had hung himself to the tree, and, in falling, his body had become horribly mangled, and was then being devoured by dogs. The mutilated remains were ordered to be buried at once, and the crowd passed on; but there was less noisy mockery, and many a pale face revealed the fearful thoughts within. Retribution seemed already to be visiting those who were guilty of the blood of Jesus. By this time the news of the condemnation of Jesus had spread through all Jerusalem, striking terror and anguish to thousands of hearts, but bringing a malicious joy to many who had been reproved by the teachings of the Saviour. The priests had been bound by a promise not to molest any of his disciples if Jesus were delivered up to them; so all classes of people flocked to the scene of outrage, and Jerusalem was left almost empty. Nicodemus, and Joseph of Arimathea, had not been summoned to the Sanhedrim council, and their voices had nothing to do with condemning Jesus. They were present at his crucifixion, but unable to change or modify his terrible sentence. The disciples and believers from the region round about joined the throng that followed Jesus to Calvary. The mother of Jesus was also there, supported by John, the beloved disciple. Her heart was stricken with unutterable anguish; yet she, with the disciples, hoped that the painful scene would change, and Jesus would assert his power, and appear before his enemies as the Son of God. Then again her mother's heart would sink as she remembered words in which he had briefly referred to the things which were that day being enacted. Jesus had scarcely passed the gate of Pilate's house when the cross which had been prepared for Barabbas was brought out and laid upon his bruised and bleeding shoulders. Crosses were also placed upon the companions of Barabbas, who were to suffer death at the same time with Jesus. The Saviour had borne his burden but a few rods, when, from loss of blood and excessive weariness and pain, he fell fainting to the ground. As he lay beneath the heavy burden of the cross, how the heart of the mother of Christ longed to place a supporting hand beneath his wounded head, and bathe that brow that had once been pillowed upon her bosom. But, alas, that mournful privilege was denied her. When Jesus revived, the cross was again placed upon his shoulders and he was forced forward. He staggered on for a few steps, bearing his heavy load, then fell as one lifeless to the ground. He was at first pronounced to be dead, but finally he again revived. The priests and rulers felt no compassion for their suffering victim; but they saw that it was impossible for him to carry the instrument of torture farther. They were puzzled to find any one who would humiliate himself to bear the cross to the place of execution. The Jews could not do it because of defilement, and their consequent inability to keep the coming passover festival. While they were considering what to do, Simon, a Cyrenian, coming from an opposite direction, met the crowd, was seized at the instigation of the priests, and compelled to carry the cross of Christ. The sons of Simon were disciples of Jesus, but he himself had never been connected with him. This occasion was a profitable one for him. The cross he was forced to bear became the means of his conversion. His sympathies were deeply stirred in favor of Jesus; and the events of Calvary, and the words uttered by Jesus, caused him to acknowledge that he was the Son of God. Simon ever after felt grateful to God for the singular providence which placed him in a position to receive evidence for himself that Jesus was the world's Redeemer. When Jesus was thought to be dying beneath the burden of the cross, many women, who, though not believers in Christ, were touched with pity for his sufferings, broke forth into a mournful wailing. When Jesus revived, he looked upon them with tender compassion. He knew they were not lamenting him because he was a teacher sent from God, but from motives of common humanity. He looked upon the weeping women and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but for yourselves, and for your children.” Jesus did not despise their tears, but the sympathy which they expressed wakened a deeper chord of sympathy in his own heart for them. He forgot his own grief in contemplating the future fate of Jerusalem. Only a short time ago the people had cried out, “His blood be on us and on our children.” How blindly had they invoked the doom they were soon to realize! Many of the very women who were weeping about Jesus were to perish with their children in the siege of Jerusalem. Jesus referred not only to the destruction of Jerusalem, but to the end of the world. Said he, “Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?” The innocent were represented by the green tree. If God suffered his wrath because of the sins of the world to fall upon the Redeemer, in that he was permitted to suffer death by crucifixion, what might be expected to come upon the impenitent and unbelieving, who had slighted the mercies of God, purchased for them by the death of his Son? The mind of Jesus wandered from the destruction of Jerusalem to a wider judgment, when all the impenitent would suffer condemnation for their sins; when the Son of man should come, attended not by a murderous mob, but by the mighty hosts of God. A great multitude followed the Saviour to Calvary, many mocking and deriding; but some were weeping and recounting his praise. Those whom he had healed of various infirmities, and those whom he had raised from the dead, declared his marvelous works with earnest voice, and demanded to know what Jesus had done that he should be treated as a malefactor. Only a few days before, they had attended him with joyful hosannas, and the waving of palm-branches, as he rode triumphantly to Jerusalem. But many who had then shouted his praise, because it was popular to do so, now swelled the cry of “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Upon the occasion of Christ riding into Jerusalem, the disciples had been raised to the highest pitch of expectation. They had pressed close about their Master, and had felt that they were highly honored to be connected with him. Now they followed him in his humiliation at a distance. They were filled with inexpressible grief, and disappointed hopes. How were the words of Jesus verified: “All ye will be offended because of me this night; for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.” Yet the disciples still had faint hope that their Master would manifest his power at the last moment, and deliver himself from his enemies. Upon arriving at the place of execution, the condemned were bound to the instruments of torture. While the two thieves wrestled in the hands of those who stretched them upon the cross, Jesus made no resistance. The mother of Jesus looked on with agonizing suspense, hoping that he would work a miracle to save himself. Surely He who had given life to the dead would not suffer himself to be crucified. What torture must this woman have endured as she witnessed the shame and suffering of her son, yet was not able to minister to him in his distress! Bitter grief and disappointment filled her heart. Must she give up her faith that he was the true Messiah? Would the Son of God allow himself to be thus cruelly slain? She saw his hands stretched upon the cross—those dear hands that had ever dispensed blessings, and had been reached forth so many times to heal the suffering. And now the hammer and nails were brought, and as the spikes were driven through the tender flesh and fastened to the cross, the heart-stricken disciples bore away from the cruel scene the fainting form of the mother of Christ. Jesus made no murmur of complaint; his face remained pale and serene, but great drops of sweat stood upon his brow. There was no pitying hand to wipe the death-dew from his face, nor words of sympathy and unchanging fidelity to stay his human heart. He was treading the wine-press all alone; and of all the people there was none with him. While the soldiers were doing their fearful work, and he was enduring the most acute agony, Jesus prayed for his enemies—“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” His mind was borne from his own suffering to the crime of his persecutors, and the terrible but just retribution that would be theirs. He pitied them in their ignorance and guilt. No curses were called down upon the soldiers who were handling him so roughly, no vengeance was invoked upon the priests and rulers who were the cause of all his suffering, and were then gloating over the accomplishment of their purpose, but only a plea for their forgiveness—“for they know not what they do.” Had they known that they were putting to exquisite torture one who had come to save the sinful race from eternal ruin, they would have been seized with horror and remorse. But their ignorance did not remove their guilt; for it was their privilege to know and accept Jesus as their Saviour. They rejected all evidence, and not only sinned against Heaven in crucifying the King of Glory, but against the commonest feelings of humanity in putting to a torturous death an innocent man. Jesus was earning the right to become the Advocate for man in the Father's presence. That prayer of Christ for his enemies embraced the world, taking in every sinner who should live, until the end of time. After Jesus was nailed to the cross, it was lifted by several powerful men, and thrust with great violence into the place prepared for it, causing the most excruciating agony to the Son of God. Pilate then wrote an inscription in three different languages and placed it upon the cross, above the head of Jesus. It ran thus: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” This inscription, placed so conspicuously upon the cross, irritated the Jews. In Pilate's court they had cried, Crucify him! We have no king but Caesar! They declared that whoever claimed other than Caesar for a king was a traitor. But they had overreached themselves in disclaiming any desire to have a king of their own nation. Pilate, in his inscription, wrote out the sentiments which they had expressed. It was a virtual declaration, and so understood by all, that the Jews acknowledged that on account of their allegiance to the Roman power, any man who aspired to be king of the Jews, however innocent in other respects, should be judged by them worthy of death. There was no other offense named in the inscription; it simply stated that Jesus was the king of the Jews. The Jews saw this, and asked Pilate to change the inscription. Said the chief priests, “Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.” But Pilate, angry with himself because of his former weakness, and thoroughly despising the jealous and artful priests and rulers, coldly replied, “What I have written I have written.” And now a terrible scene was enacted. Priests, rulers, and scribes forgot the dignity of their sacred offices, and joined with the rabble in mocking and jeering the dying Son of God, saying, “If thou be the King of the Jews, save thyself.” And some deridingly repeated among themselves: “He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him; for he said, I am the Son of God.” “And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself, and come down from the cross.” These men, who professed to be the expounders of prophecy, were themselves repeating the very words which inspiration had foretold they would utter upon this occasion; yet, in their blindness, they did not perceive that they were fulfilling prophecy. The dignitaries of the temple, the hardened soldiers, the vile thief upon the cross, and the base and cruel among the multitude, all united in their abuse of Christ. The thieves who were crucified with Jesus suffered like physical torture with him; but one was only hardened and rendered desperate and defiant by his pain. He took up the mocking of the priests, and railed upon Jesus, saying, “If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.” The other malefactor was not a hardened criminal; his morals had been corrupted by association with the base, but his crimes were not so great as were those of many who stood beneath the cross reviling the Saviour. In common with the rest of the Jews, he had believed that Messiah was soon to come. He had heard Jesus, and been convicted by his teachings; but through the influence of the priests and rulers he had turned away from him. He had sought to drown his convictions in the fascinations of pleasure. Corrupt associations had led him farther and farther into wickedness, until he was arrested for open crime and condemned to die upon the cross. During that day of trial he had been in company with Jesus in the judgment hall and on the way to Calvary. He had heard Pilate declare him to be a just man; he had marked his Godlike deportment and his pitying forgiveness of his tormentors. In his heart he acknowledged Jesus to be the Son of God. When he heard the sneering words of his companion in crime, he “rebuked him, saying, Dost thou not fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man hath done nothing amiss.” Then, as his heart went out to Christ, heavenly illumination flooded his mind. In Jesus, bruised, mocked, and hanging upon the cross, he saw his Redeemer, his only hope, and appealed to him in humble faith: “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom! And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee today, [By placing the comma after the word today, instead of after the word thee, as in the common versions, the true meaning of the text is more apparent.] shalt thou be with me in Paradise.” Jesus did not promise the penitent thief that he should go with him, upon the day of their crucifixion, to Paradise; for he himself did not ascend to his Father until three days afterward. See John 20:17. But he declared unto him, “I say unto thee today—” meaning to impress the fact upon his mind, that at that time, while enduring ignominy and persecution, he had the power to save sinners. He was man's Advocate with the Father, having the same power as when he healed the sick and raised the dead to life; it was his divine right to promise that day to the repentant, believing malefactor, “Thou shalt be with me in Paradise.” The criminal upon the cross, notwithstanding his physical suffering, felt in his soul the peace and comfort of acceptance with God. The Saviour, lifted upon the cross, enduring pain and mockery, rejected by the priests and elders, is sought by a guilty, dying soul with a faith discerning the world's Redeemer in Him who is crucified like a malefactor. For such an object did the Son of God leave Heaven, to save lost and perishing sinners. While the priests and rulers, in their self-righteous scorn, fail to see his divine character, he reveals himself to the penitent thief as the sinner's Friend and Saviour. He thus teaches that the vilest sinner may find pardon and salvation through the merits of the blood of Christ. The Spirit of God illuminated the mind of this criminal, who took hold of Christ by faith, and, link after link, the chain of evidence that Jesus was the Messiah was joined together, until the suffering victim, in like condemnation with himself, stood forth before him as the Son of God. While the leading Jews deny him, and even the disciples doubt his divinity, the poor thief, upon the brink of eternity, at the close of his probation, calls Jesus his Lord! Many were ready to call him Lord when he wrought miracles, and also after he had risen from the grave; but none called him Lord as he hung dying upon the cross, save the penitent thief, who was saved at the eleventh hour. This was a genuine conversion under peculiar circumstances, for a special and peculiar purpose. It testified to all beholders that Jesus was not an impostor, but sustained his character, and carried out his mission to the closing scene of his earthly life. Never in his entire ministry were words more grateful to his ears than the utterance of faith from the lips of the dying thief, amid the blasphemy and taunts of the mob. But let no one neglect present opportunities and delay repentance, presuming on the eleventh-hour conversion of the thief, and trusting to a death-bed repentance. Every ray of light neglected leaves the sinner in greater darkness than before, till some fearful deception may take possession of his mind, and his case may become hopeless. Yet there are instances, like that of the poor thief, where enlightenment comes at the last moment, and is accepted with an intelligent faith. Such penitents find favor with Christ. With amazement the angels beheld the infinite love of Jesus, who, suffering the most excruciating agony of mind and body, thought only of others, and encouraged the penitent soul to believe. While pouring out his life in death, he exercised a love for man stronger than death. In Christ's humiliation, he, as a prophet, had addressed the daughters of Jerusalem; as priest and Advocate, he had pleaded with the Father to forgive the sins of his destroyers; as a loving Saviour, he had forgiven the iniquity of the penitent thief who called upon him. Many who witnessed those scenes upon Calvary were afterward established by them in the faith of Christ. The serpent lifted up in the wilderness represented the Son of man lifted upon the cross, Christ said to Nicodemus, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” In the wilderness all who looked upon the elevated brazen serpent lived, while those who refused to look died. The two thieves upon the cross represent the two great classes of mankind. All have felt the poison of sin, represented by the sting of the fiery serpent in the wilderness. Those who look upon and believe in Jesus Christ, as the thief looked upon him when lifted upon the cross, shall live forever; but those who refuse to look upon him and believe in him, as the hardened thief refused to look upon and believe in the crucified Redeemer, shall die without hope. The enemies of Jesus now awaited his death with impatient hope. That event they imagined would forever hush the rumors of his divine power, and the wonders of his miracles. They flattered themselves that they should then no longer tremble because of his influence. The unfeeling soldiers who had stretched the body of Jesus upon the cross, divided his clothing among themselves, contending over one garment, which was woven without seam. They finally decided the matter by casting lots for it. The pen of inspiration had accurately described this scene hundreds of years before it took place: “For dogs have compassed me; the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me; they pierced my hands and my feet.” “They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots.” The eyes of Jesus wandered over the multitude that had collected together to witness his death, and he saw at the foot of the cross John supporting Mary, the mother of Christ. She had returned to the terrible scene, not being able to longer remain away from her son. The last lesson of Jesus was one of filial love. He looked upon the grief-stricken face of his mother, and then upon John; said he, addressing the former: “Woman, behold thy son.” Then, to the disciple: “Behold, thy mother,” John well understood the words of Jesus, and the sacred trust which was committed to him. He immediately removed the mother of Christ from the fearful scene of Calvary. From that hour he cared for her as would a dutiful son, taking her to his own home. O pitiful, loving Saviour! Amid all his physical pain, and mental anguish, he had a tender, thoughtful care for the mother who had borne him. He had no money to leave her, by which to insure her future comfort, but he was enshrined in the heart of John, and he gave his mother unto the beloved disciple as a sacred legacy. This trust was to prove a great blessing to John, 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. While enduring the keenest torture, he was not forgetful of his mother, but made all provision necessary for her future. The followers of Christ should feel that it is a part of their religion to respect and provide for their parents. No pretext of religious devotion can excuse a son or daughter from fulfilling the obligations due to a parent. The mission of Christ's earthly life was now nearly accomplished. His tongue was parched, and he said, “I thirst.” They saturated a sponge with vinegar and gall and offered it him to drink; and when he had tasted it, he refused it. And now the Lord of life and glory was dying, a ransom for the 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. Death is not to be regarded as an angel of mercy. Nature recoils from the thought of dissolution, which is the consequence of sin. But it was not the dread of death which caused the inexpressible agony of Jesus. To believe this would be to place him beneath the martyrs in courage and endurance; for many of those who have died for their faith, yielded to torture and death, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer for Christ's sake. Christ was the prince of sufferers; but it was not bodily anguish that filled him with horror and despair; it was a sense of the malignity of sin, a knowledge that man had become so familiar with sin that he did not realize its enormity, that it was so deeply rooted in the human heart as to be difficult to eradicate. As man's substitute and surety, the iniquity of men was laid upon Christ; he was counted a transgressor that he might redeem them from the curse of the law. The guilt of every descendant of Adam of every age was pressing upon his heart; and the wrath of God, and the terrible manifestation of his displeasure because of iniquity, filled the soul of his Son with consternation. 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. Every pang endured by the Son of God upon the cross, the blood drops that flowed from his head, his hands, and feet, the convulsions of agony which racked his frame, and the unutterable anguish that filled his soul at the hiding of his Father's face from him, speak to man, saying, It is for love of thee that the Son of God consents to have these heinous crimes laid upon him; for thee he spoils the domain of death, and opens the gates of Paradise and immortal life. He who stilled the angry waves by his word, and walked the foam-capped billows, who made devils tremble, and disease flee from his touch, who raised the dead to life and opened the eyes of the blind,—offers himself upon the cross as the last sacrifice for man. He, the sin-bearer, endures judicial punishment for iniquity, and becomes sin itself for man. Satan, with his fierce temptations, wrung the heart of Jesus. Sin, so hateful to his sight, was heaped upon him till he groaned beneath its weight. No wonder that his humanity trembled in that fearful hour. Angels witnessed with amazement the despairing agony of the Son of God, so much greater than his physical pain that the latter was hardly felt by him. The hosts of Heaven veiled their faces from the fearful sight. Inanimate nature expressed a 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 enveloped the cross, and all the vicinity about, like a funeral pall. There was no eclipse or other natural cause for this darkness, which was deep as midnight without moon or stars. The dense blackness was an emblem of the soul-agony and horror that encompassed the Son of God. He had felt it in the garden of Gethsemane, when from his pores were forced drops of blood, and where he would have died had not an angel been sent from the courts of Heaven to invigorate the divine sufferer, that he might tread his blood-stained path to Calvary. The darkness lasted three full hours. No eye could pierce the gloom that enshrouded the cross, and none could penetrate the deeper gloom that flooded the suffering soul of Christ. A nameless terror took possession of all who were collected about the cross. The silence of the grave seemed to have fallen upon Calvary. The cursing and reviling ceased in the midst of half-uttered sentences. Men, women, and children prostrated themselves upon the earth in abject terror. Vivid lightnings, unaccompanied by thunder, occasionally flashed forth from the cloud, and revealed the cross and the crucified Redeemer. Priests, rulers, scribes, executioners, and the mob, all thought their time of retribution had come. After a while, some whispered to others 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 terrible darkness lifted from the people, but still wrapt the Saviour as in a mantle. The angry lightnings seemed to be hurled at him as he hung upon the cross. Then “Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, eloi, lama sabacthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” As the outer gloom settled about Christ, many voices exclaimed, The vengeance of God is upon him! The bolts of God's wrath are hurled upon him because he claimed to be the Son of God! When the Saviour's despairing cry rang out, many who had believed on him were filled with terror; hope left them; if God had forsaken Jesus, what was to become of his followers, and the doctrine they had cherished? The darkness now lifted itself from the oppressed spirit of Christ, and he revived to a sense of physical suffering, and said, “I thirst.” Here was a last opportunity for his persecutors to sympathize with and relieve him; but when the gloom was removed their terror abated, and the old dread returned that Jesus might even yet escape them, “and one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.” In yielding up his precious life, Christ was not cheered by triumphant joy; all was oppressive gloom. There hung upon the cross the spotless Lamb of God, his flesh lacerated with stripes and wounds; those precious hands, that had ever been ready to relieve the oppressed and suffering, extended upon the cross, and fastened by the cruel nails; those patient feet, that had traversed weary leagues in the dispensing of blessings and in teaching the doctrine of salvation to the world, bruised and spiked to the cross; his royal head wounded by a crown of thorns; those pale and quivering lips, that had ever been ready to respond to the plea of suffering humanity, shaped to the mournful words, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” In silence the people watch for the end of this fearful scene. Again the sun shines forth; but the cross is enveloped in darkness. Priests and rulers look toward Jerusalem; and lo, the dense cloud has settled upon the city, and over Judah's plains, and the fierce lightnings of God's wrath are directed against the fated city. Suddenly the gloom is lifted from the cross, and in clear trumpet tones, that seem to resound throughout creation, Jesus cries, “It is finished;” “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” A light encircled the cross, and the face of the Saviour shone with a glory like unto the sun. He then bowed his head upon his breast, and died. All the spectators stood paralyzed, and with bated breath gazed upon the Saviour. Again darkness settled upon the face of the earth, and a hoarse rumbling like heavy thunder was heard. This was accompanied by a violent trembling of the earth. The multitude were shaken together in heaps, and the wildest confusion and consternation ensued. In the surrounding mountains, rocks burst asunder with loud crashing, and many of them came tumbling down the heights to the plains below. The sepulchers were broken open, and the dead were cast out of their tombs. Creation seemed to be shivering to atoms. Priests, rulers, soldiers, and executioners were mute with terror, and prostrate upon the ground. The darkness was again lifted from Calvary, and hung like a pall over Jerusalem. At the moment in which Christ died, there were priests ministering in the temple before the vail which separated the holy from the most holy place. Suddenly they felt the earth tremble beneath them, and the vail of the temple, a strong, rich drapery that had been renewed yearly, was rent in twain from top to bottom by the same bloodless hand that wrote the words of doom upon the walls of Belshazzar's palace. The most holy place, that had been sacredly entered by human feet only once a year, was revealed to the common gaze. God had ever before protected his temple in a wonderful manner; but now its sacred mysteries were exposed to curious eyes. No longer would the presence of God overshadow the earthly mercy-seat. No longer would the light of his glory flash forth upon, nor the cloud of his disapproval shadow, the precious stones in the breastplate of the high priest. When Christ died upon the cross of Calvary, a new and living way was opened to both Jew and Gentile. The Saviour was henceforth to officiate as Priest and Advocate in the Heaven of heavens. From henceforth the blood of beasts offered for sin was valueless; for the Lamb of God had died for the sins of the world. The darkness upon the face of nature expressed her sympathy with Christ in his expiring agony. It evidenced to humanity that the Sun of Righteousness, the Light of the world, was withdrawing his beams from the once favored city of Jerusalem, and from the world. It was a miraculous testimony given of God, that the faith of after generations might be confirmed. Jesus did not yield up his life till he had accomplished the work which he came to do; and he exclaimed with his parting breath, “It is finished!” Angels rejoiced as the words were uttered; for the great plan of redemption was being triumphantly carried out. There was joy in Heaven that the sons of Adam could now, through a life of obedience, be exalted finally to the presence of God. Satan was defeated, and knew that his kingdom was lost. When the Christian fully comprehends the magnitude of the great sacrifice made by the Majesty of Heaven, then will the plan of salvation be magnified before him, and to meditate upon Calvary will awaken the deepest and most sacred emotions of his heart. Contemplation of the Saviour's matchless love should absorb the mind, touch and melt the heart, refine and elevate the affections, and completely transform the whole character. The language of the apostle is, “I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” And we may look toward Calvary and exclaim, “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” With the death of Christ the hopes of his disciples seemed to perish. They looked upon his closed eyelids and drooping head, his hair matted with blood, his pierced hands and feet, and their anguish was indescribable. They had not believed until the last that he would die, and they could hardly credit their senses that he was really dead. The Majesty of Heaven had yielded up his life, forsaken of the believers, unattended by one act of relief or word of sympathy; for even the pitying angels had not been permitted to minister to their beloved Commander. Evening drew on, and an unearthly stillness hung over Calvary. The crowd dispersed, and many returned to Jerusalem greatly changed in spirit from what they had been in the morning. Many of them had then collected at the crucifixion from curiosity, and not from hatred toward Christ. Still they accepted the fabricated reports of the priests concerning him, and looked upon him as a malefactor. At the execution they had imbibed the spirit of the leading Jews, and, under an unnatural excitement, had united with the mob in mocking and railing against him. But when the earth was draped with blackness, and they stood accused by their own consciences, reason again resumed her sway, and they felt guilty of doing a great wrong. No jest nor mocking laughter was heard in the midst of that fearful gloom; and when it was lifted, they solemnly made their way to their homes, awestruck and conscience-smitten. They were convinced that the accusations of the priests were false, that Jesus was no pretender; and a few weeks later they were among the thousands who became thorough converts to Christ, when Peter preached upon the day of Pentecost, and the great mystery of the cross was explained with other mysteries in regard to Messiah. The Roman officers in charge were standing about the cross when Jesus cried out, “It is finished,” in a voice of startling power, and then instantly died with that cry of victory upon his lips. They had never before witnessed a death like that upon the cross. It was an unheard-of thing for one to die thus within six hours after crucifixion. Death by crucifixion was a slow and lingering process; nature became more and more exhausted until it was difficult to determine when life had become extinct. But for a man dying thus to summon such power of voice and clearness of utterance as Jesus had done, immediately before his death, was such an astonishing event that the Roman officers, experienced in such scenes, marveled greatly; and the centurion who commanded the detachment of soldiers on duty there, immediately declared, “Truly this was the Son of God.” Thus three men, differing widely from one another, openly declared their belief in Christ upon the very day of his death—he who commanded the Roman guard, he who bore the cross of his Saviour, and he who died upon the cross by his side. The spectators, and the soldiers who guarded the cross, were convinced, so far as their minds were capable of grasping the idea, that Jesus was the Redeemer for whom Israel had so long looked. But the darkness that mantled the earth could not be more dense than that which enveloped the minds of the priests and rulers. They were unchanged by the events they had witnessed, and their hatred of Jesus had not abated with his death. At his birth the angel star in the heavens had known Christ, and had conducted the seers to the manger where he lay. The heavenly hosts had known him, and sung his praise over the plains of Bethlehem. The sea had acknowledged his voice, and was obedient to his command. Disease and death had recognized his authority, and yielded their prey to his demand. The sun had known him, and hidden its face of light from the sight of his dying anguish. The rocks had known him, and shivered into fragments at his dying cry. Although inanimate nature recognized, and bore testimony of Christ, that he was the Son of God, yet the priests and rulers knew not the Saviour, rejected the evidence of his divinity, and steeled their hearts against his truths. They were not so susceptible as the granite rocks of the mountains. The Jews were unwilling that the bodies of those who had been executed should remain that night upon the cross. They dreaded to have the attention of the people directed any farther to the events attending the death of Jesus. They feared the results of that day's work upon the minds of the public. So, under pretext that they did not wish the sanctity of the Sabbath to be defiled by the bodies remaining upon the cross during that holy day, which was the one following the crucifixion, the leading Jews sent a request to Pilate that he would permit them to hasten the death of the victims, so that their bodies might be removed before the setting of the sun. Pilate was as unwilling as they were that the spectacle of Jesus upon the cross should remain a moment longer than was necessary. The consent of the governor having been obtained, the legs of the two that were crucified with Jesus were broken to hasten their death; but Jesus was already dead, and they broke not his legs. The rude soldiers, who had witnessed the looks and words of Jesus upon his way to Calvary, and while dying upon the cross, were softened by what they had witnessed, and were restrained from marring him by breaking his limbs. Thus was prophecy fulfilled, which declared that a bone of him should not be broken; and the law of the passover, requiring the sacrifice to be perfect and whole, was also fulfilled in the offering of the Lamb of God. “They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it; according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it.” A soldier, at the suggestion of the priests who wished to make the death of Jesus sure, thrust his spear into the Saviour's side, inflicting a wound which would have caused instant death if he had not already been dead. From the wide incision made by the spear there flowed two copious and distinct streams, one of blood, the other of water. This remarkable fact was noted by all the beholders, and John states the occurrence very definitely; he says: “One of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true; and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.” After the resurrection, the priests and rulers caused the report to be circulated that Jesus did not die upon the cross, that he merely fainted and was afterward resuscitated. Another lying report affirmed that it was not a real body of flesh and bone but the likeness of a body that was laid in the tomb. But the testimony of John concerning the pierced side of the Saviour, and the blood and water that flowed from the wound, refutes these falsehoods that were brought into existence by the unscrupulous Jews.
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परमेश्वरको अद्भुत प्रेम- Contents - Results - Related - Featured - Weighted Relevancy - Content Sequence - Relevancy - Earliest First - Latest First ५. कलवरी मत्ती २७:३१-५३; मर्कूस १५:२०-३८; लूका २३:२६-४६; यूहन्ना १९:१६-३० मा आधारित । “जब तिनीहरू कलवरी भन्ने ठाउँमा आए, तब त्यहाँ तिनीहरूले उहाँलाई क्रूसमा टाँगे ।”PAP 98.1 “यसकारण येशूले पनि उहाँको आफ्नै रगतद्वारा मानिसहरूलाई पवित्र गराउन ढोकाबाहिर कष्ट भोग्नुभयो ।” हिब्रू १३:१२ । परमेश्वरको व्यवस्था भङ्ग गरेकै कारण आदम र हव्वालाई अदनको बगैंचादेखि निष्कासन गरिएको थियो । ख्रीष्ट, जो हाम्रा बन्धक हुनुुहुन्थ्यो, उहाँले यरुशलेमको पर्खाल बाहिर दुःख भोग्नु पर्ने थियो । मुलढोका बाहिर उहाँको मृत्यु भयो, जहाँ अपराधी तथा हत्याराहरूलाई मृत्युदण्ड दिइने गरिन्थ्यो । यी वचनहरू कति महत्वपूर्ण छन्, “हाम्रा निम्ति सराप बनेर ख्रीष्टले हामीलाई व्यवस्थाको सरापबाट मोल तिरेर छुटाउनुभयो ।” गलाती ३:१३ ।PAP 98.2 असंख्य मानिसहरूले येशूलाई महलदेखि कलवरीसम्म पछ्याए । उहाँको दण्डाज्ञाको खबर सारा यरुशलेमभरी नै फैलिएको थियो, र हरेक वर्ग तथा ओहदाका मानिसहरू क्रूसमा चढाइने स्थानतर्फ लम्किए । यदि स्वयम् ख्रीष्ट आफैलाई पूजाहारी तथा शासकहरूका हातमा सुम्पिएको खण्डमा तिनीहरू उहाँका चेलाहरूलाई नसताउने प्रतिज्ञाद्वारा बाँधिएका थिए, र यरुशलेम शहर तथा आसपासका क्षेत्रका चेला तथा विश्वासीहरू मुक्तिदातालाई पछ्याउँदै गरेका भीडमा सामेल भए ।PAP 98.3 जसै येशू पिलातसको सभामा मुलढोका हुँदै अघि बढ्दैहुनुहुन्थ्यो तब बारब्बाको निम्ति तयार पारिएको क्रूस चोट र रगतद्वारा भरिएको उहाँको काँधमा राखियो । बारब्बाका दुई मित्रहरूले येशूको साथमै मृत्युदण्ड भोग्नु पर्नेथियो, र तिनीहरूका काँधमा पनि क्रूस राखिएको थियो । मुक्तिदाताको त्यस कमजोर तथा पीडाले भरिपूर्ण अवस्थामा उहाँको बोझ अति गह्रौं नै सावित भयो । निस्तार-चाडको बेलुकाको भोजनपछि उहाँले भोजन तथा पानी सेवन गर्नुभएको थिएन । उहाँले गेतसमनीको बगैंचामा शैतानसँगको विवादमार्फत् कष्ट भोग्नुभएको थियो । उहाँले धोखाको पीडालाई सहनुभएको थियो, र उहाँका चेलाहरूले उहाँलाई त्यागेको दृश्य देख्नुभएको थियो । उहाँलाई हन्नासदेखि कैयाफाकहाँ र त्यसपछि पिलातसकहाँ लगिएको थियो । पिलातसदेखि उहाँलाई हेरोदकहाँ लगिएको थियो, जहाँबाट पुनः उहाँलाई पिलातसकहाँ लगियो । अपमानमाथि थप अपमान, गिल्लामाथि गिल्ला, दुईपटक कोर्रा लगाइनु भएको-त्यस रात एक व्यक्तिको आत्मालाई परीक्षामा पार्नका निम्ति विभिन्न जुक्तिहरू अपनाइए । ख्रीष्ट त्यस परीक्षामा असफल बन्नुभएन । उहाँले परमेश्वरको महिमा गर्ने वचनबाहेक अन्य कुनै कुरा बोल्नुभएन । अपमानजनक ठट्टाले भरिपूर्ण पुर्पक्षकालभर उहाँले स्थिरता तथा प्रतिष्ठाका साथ स्वयम् आफैलाई सम्हाल्नुभयो । तर दोश्रोपटक कोर्रा लगाइएपछि जब उहाँको काँधमा क्रूस राखियो तब मानव देहले थप पीडा सहन सकेन । उहाँ क्रूसको बोझद्वारा बेहोश भई लड्नुभयो ।PAP 99.1 मुक्तिदातालाई पछ्याइरहेका मानिसहरूले उहाँको कमजोर तथा लड्खडाउँदो कदमलाई देखे, तर तिनीहरूले कुनै दयाको भावना प्रकट गरेनन् । उहाँ गह्रौं क्रूस बोक्न असमर्थ बन्नुभएको कारण तिनीहरूले उहाँलाई खिल्ली तथा गाली गरे । पुनः उहाँमाथि क्रूसको बोझ थामियो, उहाँ पुनः बेहोस भई जमिनमा लड्नुभयो । उहाँलाई सतावट गर्नेमानिसहरूले अब उहाँले आफ्नो त्यस बोझलाई थाम्न सक्नुहुनेछैन भनी चाल पाए । तिनीहरू त्यस अपमानजनक क्रूस बोक्ने मानिस खोज्ने क्रममा अलमलिन पुगे । यहूदीहरूले सो बोझ बोक्न सक्नेथिएनन्, किनकि अपवित्रताका कारण तिनीहरू निस्तार-चाडमा सहभागी हुनुदेखि बञ्चित हुन सक्नेथिए । उहाँलाई पछ्याइरहेका भीडमध्ये कुनै एक व्यक्ति पनि क्रूस उठाउन झुक्नेथिएन ।PAP 99.2 यसैबेला गाउँबाट आउँदै गरेका कुरेनी सिमोनको भीडसित जमकाभेट हुँदछ । उसले भीडको छेडपेच तथा ठट्टाबाज सुन्यो; साथै उसले “यहूदीहरूका राजालाई बाटो छोड” भनी तिरस्कारयुक्त रूपमा दोहोऱ्याइएका वचनहरू पनि सुन्यो । जब ऊ त्यस दृश्यप्रति अचम्म हुँदै खडा थिए; र जब उनले आफ्नो सहानुभूति व्यक्त गरे तब तिनीहरूले उनलाई समातेर उनको काँधमा क्रूस चढाइदिए ।PAP 100.1 सिमोनले येशूको बारेमा सुनेको थियो । उसका छोराहरूले मुक्तिदातामाथि विश्वास गर्ने गर्दथे, तर ऊ स्वयम् आफै भने विश्वासी थिएन । कलवरीसम्म क्रूस बोक्न पाउनु उसको लागि एक आशिष सरह थियो, र यस ईश्वर कृपाको लागि ऊ सदा धन्यवादी थियो । यसैकारण उसले ख्रीष्टको क्रूस बोक्न तथा सदा प्रसन्नताका साथ यसको बोझमुनि पर्ने रोजाई गऱ्यो ।PAP 100.2 निर्दोष येशूलाई क्रूर मृत्युतर्फ लगिंदै गरेको भीडलाई पछ्याउदै मानिसहरूमध्ये कैयौं स्त्रीहरू पनि सामेल थिएन । तिनीहरूका ध्यान येशूमाथि केन्द्रित थियो । तिनीहरूमध्ये केहिले उहाँलाई यसअघि पनि देखेका थिए । केहीले आफ्ना बिरामी तथा पीडित सदस्यहरूलाई उहाँकहाँ ल्याएका थिए । तिनीहरूमध्ये केहीले चङ्गाइदान पनि पाएका थिए । तिनीहरूका जीवनमा घटेका घटनाका दृश्यहरू एक आपसमा मिल्न आउँछन् । तिनीहरू उहाँविरुद्ध भीडले प्रकट गरेको घृणाप्रति अचम्म मान्दछन् जसको निम्ति स्वयम् तिनीहरूका हृदय पग्लिनपुगेको छ तथा छियाछिया हुन लागेको छ । क्रोधित भीडको व्यवहार तथा पूजाहारी र शासकहरूका रिसले भरिपूर्ण वचनहरूलाई पर्वाह नगर्दै ती स्त्रीहरूले आफ्ना सहानुभूति व्यक्त गरे । जब येशू क्रूसको बोझद्वारा बेहोस भई लड्नुभयो तब तिनीहरू विलाप गर्दै रुन थाले ।PAP 100.3 केवल यसैले मात्र ख्रीष्टको ध्यानलाई आकर्षित गरेको थियो । संसारको पापको बोझ बोक्ने क्रममा पीडाले भरिपूर्ण भएता पनि उहाँले ती स्त्रीहरूद्वारा व्यक्त गरिएको शोकलाई उपेक्षा गर्नुभएन । उहाँले ती स्त्रीहरूप्रति कोमल दयाको भावानका साथ हेर्नुभयो । तिनीहरूले उहाँमाथि विश्वास गर्दैनथे; उहाँ परमेश्वरद्वारा पठाइनुभएको हो भनी तिनीहरूले शोक व्यक्त गरेका होइनन् तर केवल मानव करुणाको भावनाद्वारा प्रभावित हुनपुगेको हुन् भनी उहाँलाई थाहा थियो । उहाँले तिनीहरूका सहानुभूतिलाई तिरस्कार गर्नुभएन, तर यसले उहाँको हृदयमा तिनीहरूप्रति अझ गहिरो सहानुभूतिको भावना उत्पन्न गरायो । उहाँले भन्नुभयो, “यरुशलेमका छोरी हो, मेरो निम्ति नरोओ, तर तिमीहरू आफ्नै निम्ति र आफ्ना छोराछोरीका निम्ति रोओ ।” उहाँ सामु भएको दृश्यमार्फत ख्रीष्टले यरुशलेमको विनाशको समय देख्नुभयो । यरुशलेमको विनाशको त्यस भयानक समयमा अहिले उहाँका लागि विलाप गरिरहेका मानिसहरूमध्ये धेरैजना आफ्ना सन्तानहरूका साथ मर्नेछन् ।PAP 101.1 येशूको चिन्तन यरुशलेमको पतनदेखि एक विस्तृत इन्साफतर्फ सऱ्यो । अपश्चातापी शहरको विनाशमार्फत उहाँले यस संसारमा आउने अन्तिम विनाशको चिन्ह देख्नुभयो । उहाँले भन्नुभयो, “तब तिनीहरूले पहाडहरूलाई हामीमाथि खस्, र डाँडाहरूलाई ‘हामीलाई छोप’ भन्न लाग्नेछन् । किनकि तिनीहरूले रूख हरियो हुँदा यी काम गर्छन् भने सुख्खा हुँदा के गर्लान् ?” हरियो रूखमार्फत ख्रीष्टले स्वयम् आफ्नै बारेमा प्रतिनिधित्व गर्दैहुनुहुन्थ्यो जो निर्दोष उद्धारकर्ता हुनुहुन्छ । परमेश्वरले पापविरुद्ध उहाँको क्रोधलाई आफ्नो प्रिय पुत्रमाथि पर्न दिनुभयो । येशू मानिसहरूका पापका खातिर क्रूसमा टाँगिनुपर्ने थियो । यदि कुनै पापी पापमय अवस्थामै रहिरहने हो भने उसले कस्तो पीडा भोग्नुपर्नेछ त ? अपश्चातापी तथा अविश्वासीहरूले भोग्नुपर्ने शोक तथा पीडा अवर्णनीय तवरको हुनेछ ।PAP 102.1 मुक्तिदातालाई कलवरीसम्म पछ्याउने भीडमध्ये धेरै मानिस जब उहाँ यरुशलेमसम्म विजयोल्लासका साथ सवार हुनुहुन्थ्यो त्यस समय होसन्ना गाउँदै तथा खजूरको हाँगाहरू लिएर स्वागत गर्ने क्रममा सहभागी भएका थिए । त्यस समयको लोकप्रिय चलनअनुसार जुन मानिसहरूले उच्च सोरका साथ उहाँको प्रशंसा गरेका थिए तिनै मानिसहरू अहिले “क्रूसमा टाँग्नुहोस्, त्यसलाई क्रूसमा टाँग्नुहोस्” भनी कराए । जब ख्रीष्ट यरुशलेमसम्म सवार हुनुहुन्थ्यो तब चेलाहरूका आशा सर्वाधिक उँचाइसम्म पुगेको थियो । उहाँसँग सम्बन्धित हुन पाउनुलाई एक उच्च सम्मानको रूपमा लिंदै तिनीहरू आफ्ना गुरुसँग अति घनिष्ट सम्बन्धमा बाँधिएका थिए । तर अहिले उहाँको यस अपमानजनक अवस्थामा तिनीहरूले उहाँलाई टाढादेखि पछ्याए । तिनीहरू शोकले भरिपूर्ण थिए, र निराशाजनक हुँदै झुक्नपुगेका थिए । येशूका निम्न वचनहरू पूरा हुन आएका थिए: “आज राती मेरो कारणले तिमीहरू पछि हटिजानेछौ । किनभने यसो लेखिएको छ, म गोठालालाई प्रहार गर्नेछु, र बगालका भेडाहरू जताततै छरपष्ट हुनेछन् ।” मत्ती २६:३१ ।PAP 102.2 मृत्युदण्ड दिइने स्थानमा आइपुगे पश्चात कैदीहरूलाई यातना दिइने औजारमा बाँधियो । दुई चोरहरूले आफूलाई क्रूसमा चढाउने व्यक्तिहरूसित कडा संघर्ष गरे; तर येशूले कुनै प्रतिरोध गर्नुभएन । यूहन्नाको सहाराद्वारा येशूकी माताले कलवरीसम्म आफ्नो पुत्रको कदमलाई पछ्याएकी थिइन् । तिनले आफ्नो पुत्र येशू क्रूसको बोझद्वारा बेहोस हुनपुगेको देखिन्, र चोटले भरिपूर्ण उहाँको शिरमुनि आफ्नो सहाराको हात राख्ने इच्छा गरेकी थिइन् र त्यस निधारलाई धुन चाहेकी थिइन् जुन निधारले कुनै समय उनको कोखमा आड लिएको थियो । तर तिनलाई यो शोकपूर्ण कार्य गर्ने अधिकार दिइएन । येशूले आफ्नो शक्ति प्रकट गर्नुभई स्वयम्लाई उहाँका शत्रुहरूदेखि मुक्त तुल्याउनुहुनेछ भनी तिनले पनि चेलाहरूले जस्तै आशा राखेकी थिइन् । तर जुन कुराहरू उहाँले अगमवाणी गर्नु भएको थियो तिनै कुराहरू पूरा हुँदैगरेको दृश्यद्वारा तिनको हृदय शिथिल बन्नपुग्यो । जसै चोरहरूलाई क्रूसमा बाँधिदै थियो, तब तिनले कष्टले भरिपूर्ण सुर्ताका साथ त्यस दृश्यतर्फ नजर लगाइन् । मृतकहरूलाई जीवन दिनुहुने ख्रीष्टले के स्वयम्लाई क्रूसमा चढाइने अनुमति दिनुहुनेछ त ? के परमेवरको पुत्रले स्वयम्लाई यसरी क्रूररूपमा मारिने अनुमति दिनुहुनेछ त ? के तिनले येशू नै मसिह हुनुहुन्छ भन्ने आफ्नो विश्वासलाई त्याग्नुपर्नेछ त ? के तिनले उहाँको कष्टको समयमा समेत सेवा गर्ने सौभाग्य नै नपाई उहाँको अपमान तथा शोकलाई देख्नुपर्नेछ त ? तिनले उहाँको हातलाई क्रूसमा पसारिएको देखिन्; हतौडी तथा कीलाहरू ल्याइयो, र जब कोमल देहलाई छेड्ने गरी कीला गाडियो तब हृदय विच्छेद हुनपुगेका चेलाहरूले बेहोस बन्नपुगेकी येशूकी मातालाई त्यस क्रूर दृश्यदेखि पर लगे ।PAP 103.1 मुक्तिदाताले कुनै गुनासो व्यक्त गर्नुभएन । उहाँको अनुहार शान्त तथा निर्मल थियो, तर उहाँको निधार अत्यधिक पसिनाले भरिनपुग्यो । त्यहाँ उहाँको निधारदेखि त्यस मृत्युको शीत पुछ्ने कुनै दयालु हात थिएन न त उहाँको मानव हृदयलाई शान्त पार्ने कुनै करुणामयी वचन तथा अपरिवर्तनीय भक्ति नै थियो । जब सिपाहीहरूले आफ्ना भयानक कार्य गर्दैथिए तब येशूले उहाँका शत्रुहरूका निम्ति यसरी प्रार्थना गर्नुभयो, “हे पिता, यिनीहरूलाई क्षमा गर्नुहोस्, किनकि यिनीहरूले के गर्दैछन् सो जान्दैनन् ।” उहाँको मन स्वयम् आफ्नै पीडादेखि उहाँलाई सतावट गर्ने मानिसहरूका पापप्रति तथा तिनीहरूमाथि आइपर्ने भयानक बदलामाथि केन्द्रित हुनपुग्यो । जुन सेनाहरूले उहाँमाथि यति कठोररूपमा व्यवहार गरिरहेका थिए तिनीहरूमाथि कुनै सरापहरू आइपरेनन् । जुन पूजाहारी तथा शासकहरूले आफ्ना सफलताप्रति ईवीखुशी मनाउँदैथिए तिनीहरूमाथि कुनै बदला आव्हान गरिएन । आफ्ना अज्ञान तथा दोष बाबजुद ख्रीष्टले तिनीहरूमाथि दया प्रकट गर्नुभयो । उहाँले तिनीहरूका क्षमाका निम्ति यसरी बिन्ति गर्नुभयो,- “किनकि यिनीहरूले के गर्दैछन् सो जान्दैनन् ।”PAP 104.1 यदि तिनीहरूले पापी मानवजातिलाई अनन्तको विनाशदेखि बचाउन आउनुभएको ख्रीष्टलाई यातना दिंदैछन् भनी जानेका भए तिनीहरूले पश्चात्ताप गर्ने तथा भयको अनुभव गर्नेथिए । तर तिनीहरूका अज्ञानले आफ्ना दोषलाई हटाएन; किनकि येशूलाई आफ्ना मुक्तिदाताको रूपमा स्वीकार गर्नु तिनीहरूका निम्ति एक विशेषाधिकार थियो । तिनीहरूमध्ये केही मानिसहरूले अझ पनि आफ्ना पापलाई देख्नेछन्, पश्चात्ताप गर्नेछन् तथा परिवर्तन हुनेछन् । केहीले चाहिँ आफ्ना अपश्चात्तापका कारण तिनीहरू प्रति ख्रीष्टको प्रार्थनाको सुनुवाइ हुन असम्भव तुल्याउनेछन् । तर पनि परमेश्वरको उद्देश्य पूरा हुँदैथियो । येशूले परमेश्वरको उपस्थितिमा न्यायधीश बन्ने अधिकार हासिल गर्दैहुनुहुन्थ्यो ।PAP 105.1 ख्रीष्टले उहाँका शत्रुहरूका निम्ति गर्नुभएको त्यस प्रार्थनाले संसारलाई नै अँगालेको थियो । यसले संसारको आदि तथा अन्तसम्मका जीवित वा आउँदा पुस्ताका सारा पापीहरूलाई समेटेको थियो । परमेश्वरको पुत्रलाई क्रूसमा चढाइएको दोष सबैमाथि आइपरेको छ । सारा मानवजातिलाई सितैमा क्षमा प्रदान गरिएको छ । “इच्छा गर्ने सबैले” परमेश्वरमा शान्ति हासिल गरी अनन्त जीवन प्राप्त गर्न सक्नेछन् ।PAP 105.2 येशूलाई क्रूसमा कीला लगाइसक्नासाथ त्यस क्रूसलाई बलिया मानिसहरूले उचाली तयार पारिएको स्थानमा अधिक जोरका साथ जमिनमा बजारेका थिए । यसले परमेश्वरको पुत्रमा सर्वाधिक तीव्र पीडा उत्पन्न गराएको थियो । तब पिलातसले हिब्रू, युनानी, तथा ल्याटिन भाषामा एक लेख लेखी येशूको शीरमाथि क्रूसमा टाँग्यो । यसमा “नासरतको येशू येहूदीहरूका राजा” भनी लेखिएको थियो । यस लेखले यहूदीहरूलाई क्रोधित तुल्यायो । पिलातसको महलमै तिनीहरूले “त्यसलाई क्रूसमा टाँग्नुहोस्” “कैसर बाहेक हाम्रो अरू राजा छैन” भनी चिच्याएका थिए । यूहन्ना १९:१५ । कैसरबाहेक अरू राजालाई स्वीकार्ने व्यक्ति एक देशद्रोही हुनेछ भनी तिनीहरूले घोषणा गरेका थिए । पिलातसले तिनीहरूद्वारा व्यक्त गरिएको भावुकतालाई टिपोट गऱ्यो । येशू यहूदीहरूका राजा हुनुहुन्छ भन्ने अपमानजनक कुराबाहेक अन्य कुनै कुरा व्यक्त गरिएको थिएन । यो लेख रोमी सत्ताप्रति यहूदीहरूका वफादारीको मञ्जुरी थियो । इस्राएको राजा हुने दाबी गर्नेजतिलाई मृत्युदण्डयोग्य तुल्याइनेगरी इन्साफ गरिनेछ भनी यस लेखले घोषणा गरेको थियो । पूजाहारीहरूले स्वयम् आफैलाई ठगेका थिए । जब तिनीहरूले ख्रीष्टलाई मृत्युदण्ड दिने षड्यन्त्र रचिरहेका थिए तब कैयाफाले राज्यलाई बचाउने हेतु एक व्यक्ति मर्नु उचित छ भनी घोषणा गरेको थियो । अब तिनीहरूका पाखण्डीपन प्रकट हुनआयो । ख्रीष्टलाई नाश गर्नका निम्ति तिनीहरू आफ्ना राष्ट्रिय अस्तित्वलाई समेत परित्याग गर्न तैयार थिए ।PAP 105.3 पूजाहारीहरूले आफ्ना गतल कार्यलाई देखे र यस लेखलाई परिवर्तन गर्न पिलातसलाई अनुरोध गरे । तिनीहरूले यसो भने, “‘यहूदीहरूका राजा’ भन्ने होइन, तर ‘यसले म यहूदीहरूका राजा हुँ भन्यो’ भनी लेख्नुहोस् ।” तर पिलातस आफ्नो विगतको कमजोरीका कारण स्वयम् आफैप्रति क्रोधित थियो, र उसले ईर्ष्यालु अनि धूर्त पूजाहारी तथा शासकहरूलाई पूर्णरूपमा निन्दा गऱ्यो । उसले निर्ममरूपमा यसरी जवाफ दियो, “मैले जे लेखें, लेखें ।”PAP 106.1 येशूको शिरभन्दा माथि क्रूसमा त्यसरी टाँगिएको लेखले पिलातस वा यहूदीहरूभन्दा अझ उच्च शक्तिलाई औंल्याएको थियो । परमेश्वरको पूर्वदृष्टिमा यसले धर्मशास्त्रको बिचार तथा जाँचबुझलाई जगाउनु पर्नेथियो । ख्रीष्टलाई क्रूसमा टाँगिएको स्थान शहर नजिकै थियो । विभिन्न स्थानका हजारौं मानिसहरू यरुशलेममा भेला भएका थिए, र नासरतको येशू मसिह हुनुहुन्छ भन्ने लेख तिनीहरूका ध्यानमा आयो । यो परमेश्वरद्वारा निर्देशित हातद्वारा लेखिएको एक जीवित सत्यता थियो ।PAP 107.1 ख्रीष्टले क्रूसमा भोग्नुभएको पीडामार्फत भविष्यवाणी पूरा हुन आएको थियो । क्रूसमा टाँगिनुभन्दा शताब्दीऔंपूर्व मुक्तिदाताले आफूले भोग्नुपर्ने व्यवहारको बारेमा भविष्यवाणी गर्नुभएको थियो । उहाँले भन्नुभयो, “कुकुरहरू मेरो चारैपट्टि छन्, कुकर्मीहरूको समूहले मलाई घेरेको छ, तिनीहरूले मेरा हात र मेरा खुट्टा छेडेका छन् । मेरा सबै हाडहरू म गन्न सक्छु, मानिसहरू द्धेषसाथ मलाई एकटक लाएर हेर्छन् । तिनीहरू मेरा बस्त्रहरू आपसमा बाँड्छन्, र मेरा पोशाकको निम्ति तिनीहरूले चिठ्ठा हाल्छन् ।” भजन २२:१६-१८ । उहाँको बस्त्रको बारेमा गरिएको भविष्यवाणी क्रूसमा टाँगिनुभएको ख्रीष्टका मित्र वा शत्रुहरूका परामर्श वा हस्तक्षेपबिना नै कार्यान्वयन गरिएको थियो । उहाँलाई क्रूसमा टाँग्ने सिपाहीहरूलाई नै उहाँको बस्त्र दिइएको थियो । ती सिपाहीहरूले एक आपसमा सो बस्त्र बाँडचुँड गर्ने क्रममा उत्पन्न भएको विवादलाई ख्रीष्टले सुन्नुभयो । उहाँको बस्त्र सिउनी रहित रूपमा बुनिएको हुनाले तिनीहरूले यसो भने, “योचाहिँ नच्यातौं, तर यो कसको हुने हो भनी चिठ्ठा हालौं ।”PAP 107.2 अर्को भविष्यवाणीमार्फत ख्रीष्टले यसरी घोषणा गर्नुभएको थियो, “तिरस्कारले मेरो मन भाँचेको छ, र म निस्सहाय भएको छु । मलाई टिठ्याउने कोही छन् कि भनेर मैले खोजें, तर कोही थिएन, र सान्त्वना दिनेहरू पनि, तर कोही थिएन । तिनीहरूले मेरो खानामा पित्त हाले, र मेरा तिर्खामा तिनीहरूले मलाई सिर्का दिए ।” भजन ६९:२०,२१ । क्रूसमा टाँगेर मृत्युदण्ड दिइने व्यक्तिलाई उसको शारीरिक पीडा हटाउनका निम्ति लठ्याउने औषधी खुवाइने अनुमति दिइन्थ्यो । येशूलाई यही औषधी दिइएको थियो, तर जब उहाँले यसको स्वाद लिनुभयो तब उहाँले यसलाई सेवन गर्न इन्कार गर्नुभयो । उहाँले आफ्नो मस्तिष्कलाई धमिल्याउने कुनैपनि कुरा ग्रहण गर्नुहुनेछैन । उहाँको विश्वास परमेश्वरमा मजबुत रहनुपर्नेछ । यही नै उहाँको एकमात्र शक्ति हो । उहाँको चेतनालाई धमिल्याउनुको अर्थ शैतानलाई मौका दिनु सावित हुनेछ ।PAP 108.1 जब येशूलाई क्रूसमा टाँगियो तब उहाँका शत्रुहरूले उहाँमाथि आफ्ना क्रोध खन्याए । पूजाहारी, शासक, तथा धर्मगुरुहरू मर्दैगर्नुभएको मुक्तिदातालाई खिल्ली उडाउने क्रममा भीडसँगै सामेल भए । ख्रीष्टको बप्तिस्मा तथा रूप परिवर्तनको समयमा उहाँ परमेश्वरको पुत्र हुनुहुन्छ भनी घोषणा गरिएको परमेश्वरको वाणी सुनिएको थियो । ख्रीष्टलाई विश्वासघात गरिनुभन्दा केहि समयअघि परमेश्वर पिताले उहाँको ईश्वरत्वको बारेमा गवाही दिंदै बोल्नुभएको थियो । तर अहिले स्वर्गबाट कुनै वाणी सुनिएन । ख्रीष्टको पक्षमा कुनै गवाही सुनिएन । उहाँले दुष्ट मानिसहरूबाट एक्लै दुर्व्यवहार तथा अपमान सहनुभयो ।PAP 108.2 तिनीहरूले यसो भने, “परमेश्वरको पुत्र होस् भने क्रूसबाट ओर्लेर तल आइज ।” “यो परमेश्वरका ख्रीष्ट तथा उहाँका चुनिएका जन हो भने यसले आफैलाई बचाओस् ।” उजाडस्थानको परीक्षामा शैतानले यसरी घोषणा गरेको थियो, “तपाईं परमेश्वरका पुत्र हुनुहुन्छ भने यी ढुङ्गाहरूलाई रोटी होऊन् भनी आज्ञा दिनुहोस् ।” “तपाईं परमेश्वरका पुत्र हुनुहुन्छ भने यहाँबाट तल हाम फल्नुहोस् ।” मत्ती ४:३, ६ । शैतान तथा उसका दूतहरू मानव रूपमा क्रूस सामु उपस्थित थिए । शैतान तथा उसका दूतहरू पूजाहारी तथा शासकहरूलाई सहयोग गर्दैथिए । धर्मगुरुहरूले अबोध भीडलाई ख्रीष्टविरुद्ध इन्साफ गराउनका निम्ति भड्काएका थिए जुन ख्रीष्टलाई तिनीहरूले उहाँविरुद्ध साक्षी दिन जोर गरिनुअघि कहिल्यै देखेका पनि थिएनन् । पूजाहारी, शासक, फरिसी, तथा कठोर भीड पिशाचीय आवेशमा एकत्रित बन्नपुगेका थिए । धार्मिक अगुवाहरू शैतान तथा उसका दूतहरूका साथ एक बने । तिनीहरू उसका आज्ञाहरूलाई पूरा गर्दैथिए ।PAP 109.1 पीडा तथा मृत्युको सामना गरिहरनुभएको येशूले पूजाहारीहरूद्वारा यसरी उच्चारण गरिएका प्रत्येक शब्दलाई सुने, “यसले अरूलाई त बचायो, आफूलाई चाहिँ बचाउन सक्दैन । यो इस्राएलको राजा हो । अहिले क्रूसबाट तल ओर्लेर आओस्, र हामी यसलाई विश्वास गर्नेछौं ।” ख्रीष्ट क्रूसदेखि ओर्लन सक्नुहुनेथियो । तर उहाँले स्वयम् आफैलाई नबचाउनुभएकै कारण पापीले परमेश्वरदेखि क्षमाको आशा तथा निगाह प्राप्त गर्न सक्नेछ ।PAP 109.2 मुक्तिदातालाई खिल्ली उडाउने क्रममा भविष्यवाणीको व्याख्या गर्ने व्यक्तिका रूपमा दाबी गर्ने मानिसहरूले धर्मशास्त्रमा उल्लेखित तिनै शब्दहरूलाई उच्चारण गर्दैथिए जुन यस अवसरमा तिनीहरूद्वारा उच्चारण गरिनेछ भनी भविष्यवाणी गरिएको थियो । तर आफ्ना अन्धोपनमा भविष्यवाणीका बचनलाई पूरा गर्दैछन् भन्ने कुरालाई तिनीहरूले देख्न सकेनन् । जुन मानिसहरूले “यसले परमेश्वरमा भरोसा राख्छ । परमेश्वरले यसलाई चाहनुहुन्छ भने उहाँले यसलाई अहिले यसलाई छुटकारा दिऊन्, किनकि यसले ‘म परमेश्वरको पुत्र हुँ’ भनी भन्थ्यो” भनी उपहास गरे तिनीहरूले आफ्ना गवाही युगौंसम्म गुञ्जिहरनेछ भनी बिचार लिएकै थिएनन् । उपहास पूर्ण रूपमा बोलिएता पनि यी शब्दहरूले मानिसहरूलाई यसरी धर्मशास्त्रमा खोजी गर्न अगुवाइ गऱ्यो जुन यसअघि कहिल्यै पनि गरिएको थिएन । बुद्धिमानीहरूले सुने, खोजी गरे, ध्यान गरे, तथा प्रार्थना गरे । त्यहाँ यस्ता मानिसहरू पनि थिए जसले ख्रीष्टको जीवनको उद्देश्यको अर्थ नबुझेसम्मै धर्मशास्त्रलाई धर्मशास्त्रसँग दाँजे । ख्रीष्ट क्रूसमा टाँगिनु अघि कुनै व्यक्तिसँग पनि उहाँको बारेमा यति व्यापक ज्ञान थिएन । क्रूसमा टाँगिएको दृश्य देख्ने तथा ख्रीष्टको वचन सुन्नेहरूमध्ये कैयौंका हृदयमा सत्यताको ज्योति चम्किरहेको थियो ।PAP 109.3 येशूले आफ्नो पीडाको समयमा एक ढाढसको आभास पाउनुभयो । सो आभास पश्चात्तापी चोरको प्रार्थना थियो । येशूसँगै क्रूसमा टाँगिएका दुबै चोरहरूले सर्वप्रथमतः उहाँमाथि गालीगलौज गरेका थिए; र ती मध्ये एक चाहिँ पीडाको कारण अझ व्याकुल तथा अटेरी बन्नपुग्यो । तर उसको अर्को मित्रले भने यस्तो व्यवहार गरेन । उक्त व्यक्ति कठोर अपराधी थिएन; ऊ दुष्ट सम्पर्कद्वारा बहकिनपुगेको थियो, तर क्रूस वरिपरि मुक्तिदातालाई निन्दा गरिरहेका मानिसहरूभन्दा ऊ कम दोषी थियो । उसले येशूलाई देखेको तथा उहाँको बारेमा सुनेको थियो, र उहाँको शिक्षाद्वारा विश्वस्त बन्नपुगेको थियो, तर पूजाहारी तथा शासकहरूका कारण ऊ उहाँदेखि तर्किनपुगेको थियो । त्यस विश्वासलाई दबाउनका निम्ति ऊ पापको दलदलमा अझ गहिरोरूपमा फस्नपुगेको थियो, र अन्त्यमा ऊ पक्राउ परेको थियो, र एक अपराधीको रूपमा पुर्पक्ष गरिएको थियो र उसलाई क्रूसमा मृत्युदण्ड दिइनेवाला थियो । महलभित्र तथा कलवरीतर्फको मार्गमा ऊ येशूसँगै थियो । उसले “म यिनमा केही दोष पाउँदिन” भनी पिलातसले घोषणा गरेको सुनेको थियो । यूहन्ना १९:४ । उसले उहाँको ईश्वरीय स्वभाव तथा उहाँलाई यातना दिनेहरूप्रति उहाँको करुणामयी क्षमालाई ध्यानपूर्वक हेरेको थियो । उसले क्रूससामु कैयौं धर्मप्रति आस्था राख्ने मानिसहरूले प्रभु येशूलाई तिरस्कार गर्न तथा खिल्ली उडाउनका निम्ति मुख खोलेको देख्यो । उसले ठट्टा गर्दै हल्लिएका शिरहरू देख्यो । उसले दोषको कारण आफ्नो मित्रले भर्त्सनायुक्त रूपमा यसरी बोलेको सुन्दछ: “के तिमी ख्रीष्ट हैइनौ ? तिमी आफैलाई र हामीलाई बचाऊ ।” उसले बटुवाहरूमध्ये कैयौंले येशूको पक्षमा बोलेको सुन्यो । ती मानिसहरूले उहाँका वचनहरू दोहोऱ्याएका तथा उहाँका कार्यहरूका बारेमा बोलेको पनि उसले सुन्यो । उसको मनमा उहाँ नै ख्रीष्ट हुनुहुन्छ भन्ने विश्वास उत्पन्न भयो । आफ्नो अपराधी मित्रतर्फ फर्कंदै उसले भन्यो, “तँ पनि त्यही दण्डमा परेको छस्, तापनि परमेश्वरको डर मान्दैनस् ?” मर्नेवाला चोरहरूसँग अब मानिसहरू प्रति कुनै भय थिएन । तर ती दुईमध्ये एकको मनमा परमेश्वरको भय मान्नुपर्छ भन्ने विश्वास उत्पन्न भयो तथा भविष्यको चिन्तनले उसमा कम्पन गरायो । र अब उसको जीवन जति नै पापले प्रदुषित भएता पनि उसको जीवन इतिहासको अन्त्य हुनेवाला थियो । र उसले यसरी भन्यो, “हाम्रो दण्ड त न्यायोचित छ, किनकि हामीले त आफ्नो कामको उचित फल भोगिरहेका छौं, तर यी मानिसले त केही अनुचित काम गरेका छैनन् ।”PAP 110.1 अब त्यहाँ कुनै प्रश्न छैन । त्यहाँ कुनै शंका तथा भर्त्सनाहरू छैनन् । आफ्नो अपराधद्वारा दोषी ठहरिएपछि उक्त चोर निराश तथा खिन्न बन्नपुगेको थियो; तर अब उसको मनमा अचम्मको कोमल विचारहरू उत्पन्न हुँदछ । येशूले कसरी रोगीहरूलाई निको पार्नुभएको थियो तथा पापलाई क्षमा गर्नुभएको थियो भनी उसले जे जति उहाँको बारेमा सुनेको थियो ती सबैलाई स्मरण गऱ्यो । उसले येशूमा विश्वास गर्दै रुँदै उहाँलाई पछ्याउने मानिसहरूका वचनलाई सुनेको थियो । उसले मुक्तिदाताको शिरमाथि राखिएको लेखको शीर्षकलाई देखेको तथा पढेको थियो । बटुवाहरूमध्ये कसैले सो लेखलाई शोकका साथ काम्दैगरेको ओंठले पढेको वा अन्य कसैले चाहिँ उपहास तथा तिरस्कारका साथ पढेको उसले सुनेको थियो । पवित्र आत्माले उसको मनलाई उज्यालो तुल्याउनुभयो, र विस्तारै प्रमाणको सिक्री जोडिन पुग्यो । चोटैचोटले भरिएको, तिरस्कारको शिकार बन्नुभएको, तथा क्रूसमा टाँगिनु भएको येशूमा उसले परमेश्वरको एक यस्तो थुमालाई देख्दछ जसले संसारको पाप उठाइ लैजानुुहुनेछ । जब असहाय, मर्दैगरेको उक्त चोरले स्वयम्लाई मर्दैगरेको मुक्तिदातामा समर्पण गर्दछ तब उसको आशा आफ्नो वेदनायुक्त आवाजमा मिसिन पुग्दछ । ऊ यसरी पुकार्दछ, “हे येशू, तपाईं आफ्नो राज्यमा आउनुहुँदा मलाई सम्झनुहोस् ।”PAP 112.1 तब शीघ्रताका साथ जवाफ आउँदछ । प्रेम, करुणा, तथा शक्तिले भरिपूर्ण नरम तथा मधुर यो वचन आउँदछ, “साँच्चै म तिमीलाई भन्दछु, आजै तिमी मसित स्वर्गलोकमा हुनेछौ ।”PAP 112.2 येशूको कानमा लामो समयसम्म पीडा, गालीगलौज, तथा तिरस्कार पर्दछ । जब उहाँलाई क्रूसमा टाँगियो तब उहाँले अझैपनि ठट्टा तथा सरापयुक्त आवाजहरू गुञ्जिहरेको सुन्नुभयो । उहाँले तृष्णायुक्त हृदयका साथ आफ्ना चेलाहरूबाट विश्वासका केहि अभिव्यक्तिहरू सुन्ने आशा राख्नुभएको थियो । उहाँले शोकले भरिपूर्ण निम्न वचनहरू मात्र सुन्नुभयो, “उहाँले नै इस्राएलको उद्धार गर्नुपर्नेछ भनी हामीले विश्वास गरेका गरेका थियौं ।” मर्दै गरेको चोरको ओंठदेखि विश्वास तथा प्रेमको अभिव्यक्ति सुन्न पाउनुहुँदा मुक्तिदाता कति कृतज्ञ हुनुभयो होला त ? जबकि अगुवा यहूदीहरूले उहाँलाई इन्कार गर्दैथिए, र स्वयम् उहाँकै चेलाहरूले समेत उहाँको ईश्वरत्वमाथि शंका गर्दैथिए, अनन्तताको साँधमा रहेको त्यस चोरले भने येशूलाई प्रभु भनी पुकाऱ्यो । जब उहाँले आश्चर्य कामहरू गर्नुभयो, तथा उहाँ चिहानदेखि बौरिउठ्नु भएपछि धेरै मानिसहरू उहाँलाई परमप्रभुको रूपमा पुकार्न तैयार थिए; तर उहाँलाई क्रूसमा टाँगिएको अवस्थामा अन्तिम घडीमा बचाइएको पश्चातापी चोरले बाहेक अन्य कसैले पनि उहाँलाई स्वीकार गरेनन् ।PAP 113.1 जब त्यस चोरले येशूलाई प्रभु भनी पुकारेको थियो । तब सो कुरा क्रूस वरिपरि भेला भएका मानिसहरूले पनि सुने । पश्चात्तापी व्यक्तिको ध्वनिले तिनीहरूका ध्यानलाई आकर्षित पाऱ्यो । क्रूसको फेदमा ख्रीष्टको बस्त्रमाथि विवाद गर्दै चिठ्ठा हाल्दैगरेका मानिसहरू पनि कुरा सुन्ने हेतुले शान्त भए । तिनीहरूका क्रोधले भरिपूर्ण आवाज बन्द हुनपुग्यो । तिनीहरू निःशब्द भई ख्रीष्टतर्फ आफ्ना नजर लगाए अनि उहाँको ओंठदेखि जवाफको प्रतिक्षा गरे ।PAP 113.2 जसै उहाँले प्रतिज्ञाको वचन बोल्नुभयो, तब क्रूसलाई ढाक्ने घना बादललाई नै छेड्नेगरी उज्ज्वल तथा जीवित ज्योति चम्कियो । पश्चात्तापी चोरको मनमा परमेश्वरले उसलाई स्वीकार गर्नुभएको छ भन्ने पूर्ण शान्ति छायो । आफ्नो नम्रताद्वारा ख्रीष्ट महिमित हुनुभयो । उहाँ मानिसहरूका नजरमा पराजित देखापर्नु भएता पनि उहाँ विजयी हुनुहुन्थ्यो । उहाँलाई पाप बोक्नुहुनेको रूपमा स्वीकार गरिएको थियो । मानिसहरूले उहाँको मानव देहमाथि शक्ति प्रदर्शन गर्न सक्लान् । तिनीहरूले पवित्र मन्दिरलाई काँढे मुकुटद्वारा छेड्न सक्लान् । तिनीहरूले उहाँको बस्त्र फुकाल्न तथा यसको विभाजनमाथि विवाद गर्न सक्लान् । तर तिनीहरूले उहाँको पाप क्षमा गर्नेशक्तिलाई उहाँदेखि खोस्न सक्नेछैनन् । उहाँले मृत्युको सामना गर्नुभई स्वयम् आफ्नै ईश्वरत्व तथा पिताको महिमाको बारेमा गवाही दिनुभयो । जो जति उहाँमार्फत परमेश्वरमा आउँदछन् ती सबैलाई पूर्णरूपमा बचाउनु उहाँको राजकीय अधिकार हो ।PAP 114.1 “म तिमीलाई भन्दछु, आजै तिमी मसित स्वर्गलोकमा हुनेछौ ।” ख्रीष्टले उक्त चोर उहाँसँगै त्यही दिन स्वर्गमा हुनेछ भनी प्रतिज्ञा गर्नुभएन । उहाँ स्वयम् आफै पनि त्यही दिन स्वर्गमा जानुभएन । उहाँ चिहानमा सुत्नुभयो, र पुनरुत्थानको बिहान उहाँले भन्नुभयो, “म अहिलेसम्म पिताकहाँ गएको छैन ।” यूहन्ना २०:१७ । तर क्रूसमा चढाइएको दिनमा, देखौवा पराजय तथा अन्धकारमय दिनमा, एक अपराधीको रूपमा क्रूसमा मरिरहेको समयमा ख्रीष्टले त्यस पापीलाई ढाढस दिनुहुँदै यो प्रतिज्ञा गर्नुभयो । “तिमी मसित स्वर्गमा हुनेछौ ।”PAP 114.2 येशूसँग क्रूसमा चढाइएका ती दुई चोरहरूलाई उहाँको दुबैतर्फ राखिएको थियो । पूजाहारी तथा शासकहरूका निर्देशन मुताविक सो कार्य गरिएको थियो । ख्रीष्टलाई दुई चोरहरूका बीचमा राख्नुको अर्थ तिनजनामध्ये उहाँ नै सबैभन्दा महा अपराधी हुनुहुन्छ भनी सूचित गर्ने हेतु थियो । यसप्रकार धर्मशास्त्रको यो वचन पूरा हुन आयो, “उ, अपराधीहरूको गन्तीमा गनियो ।” यशैया ५३:१२ । तर पूजाहारीहरूले आफ्ना व्यवहारको पूूर्ण अर्थ देख्न सकेनन् । जब येशूलाई चोरहरूका साथ क्रूसमा चढाइयो, तब उहाँलाई ती दुई क्रूसको बीचमा टाँगिएको थियो, यसप्रकार उहाँको क्रूसलाई पापमा डुब्नपुगेको संसारको बीचमा राखिएको थियो । र पश्चात्तापी चोरको निम्ति बोलिएको वचनले एक यस्तो ज्योति प्रज्ज्वलित गऱ्यो जुन ज्योति संसारको पल्लो कुनासम्मै चम्किनेछ ।PAP 115.1 स्वर्गदूतहरूले आश्चर्य मान्दै मानसिक तथा शारीरिक रूपमा तीव्र पीडा भोग्दै गर्नुभएको येशूको असीमित प्रेमलाई हेरे, र उहाँ त्यस अवस्थामा पनि केवल अरूका बारेमा मात्र चिन्तन गर्दैहुनुहुन्थ्यो, तथा उहाँले पश्चात्तापी व्यक्तिलाई विश्वास गर्न प्रोत्साहित गर्नुभयो । आफ्नो नम्रतामा उहाँले एक अगमवक्ताको हैसियतले यरुशलेमका जनहरूलाई सम्बोधन गर्नुभयो; एक पूजाहारी तथा न्यायधीशको हैसियतले उहाँले पितासँग उहाँका हत्याराहरूलाई क्षमा गर्न बिन्ति गर्नुभएको थियो; र एक प्रेमिलो मुक्तिदाताको हैसियतले उहाँले पश्चात्तापी चोरलाई माफ गर्नुभएको थियो ।PAP 115.2 जब येशूको नजर उहाँ वरिपरि भएका मानिसहरू माथि पऱ्यो तब एक व्यक्तिले उहाँको ध्यानलाई आकर्षित गऱ्यो । क्रूसको फेदमा उहाँकी माता खडा थिइन् जसलाई यूहन्नाले सहारा दिइरहेका थिए । उनी आफ्नो पुत्रदेखि टाढा रहन सकिनन्; र यूहन्नाले अब अन्त्यको समय आइसकेको चाल पाएका कारण मरियमलाई पुनः क्रूसतर्फ ल्याएका थिए । ख्रीष्टले मर्दै गर्नु भएको अन्तिम घडीमा आफ्नी मातालाई सम्झनुभयो । शोकले भरिपूर्ण मुहारतर्फ तथा यूहन्नातर्फ हेर्नुहुँदै उहाँले तिनलाई भन्नुभयो, “नारी, हेर्नुहोस्, तपाईंको छोरो !” तब यूहन्नालाई यसो भन्नुभयो, “हेर, तिम्री आमा !” यूहन्नाले ख्रीष्टका वचनहरूलाई बुझे अनि जिम्मेवारीलाई स्वीकार गरे । यूहन्नाले तत्कालै मरियमलाई आफ्नो घरमा लगे, र त्यस समयदेखि तिनलाई कोमलतापूर्वक हेरचाहा गरे । उहाँ कति दयालु मुक्तिदाता हुनुहुन्छ जसले आफ्नो शारीरिक पीडा तथा मानसिक वेदनाका बाबजुद आफ्नी माताप्रति चिन्ता लिनुभयो । मरियमलाई सुखसुबिधा प्रदान गर्नका निम्ति उहाँसित कुनै पैसा थिएन; तर उहाँ यूहन्नाको हृदयमा बिराजमान हुनुहुन्थ्यो, र उहाँले आफ्नी मातालाई यूहन्नाको हातमा एक अमूल्य उत्तरदानको रूपमा हस्तान्तरण गर्नुभयो । यसप्रकार उहाँले तिनलाई सर्वाधिक आवश्यक पर्ने एक यस्तो व्यक्तिको कोमल सहानुभूति प्रदान गर्नुभयो जसले येशूलाई प्रेम गरेकै कारण तिनलाई पनि प्रेम गर्दथे । र मरियमलाई एक पवित्र नासोको रूपमा ग्रहण गर्ने क्रमद्वारा उनले एक महान् आशिष ग्रहण गर्दैथिए । तिनी यूहन्नाको प्रिय गुरुको स्थिर स्मारक थिइन् ।PAP 115.3 ख्रीष्टको पैतृक प्रेमको पूर्ण उदाहरण शताब्दीऔंदेखिको तुवाँलोमाझ पनि चहकिलो रूपमा चम्किँदै आएको छ । करीब तीस वर्षसम्म येशूले आफ्नो दैनिक परिश्रमद्वारा घरको बोझ घटाउनमा मद्दत गर्नुभयो । र अहिले आफ्नो अन्तिम वेदनामा पनि उहाँले आफ्नी शोकाकुल विधवा माताको खाँचोहरूलाई पूरा गर्न याद गर्नुभयो । हाम्रा परमप्रभुका प्रत्येक चेलामा पनि यही स्वभाव झल्किनेछ । जुन मानिसहरूले ख्रीष्टलाई पछ्याउनेछन् तिनीहरूले आफ्ना अभिभावकहरूलाई सम्मान गर्नु तथा तिनीहरूका खाँचोहरूलाई पूरा गर्नुलाई आफ्नो धर्मको एक अंशका रूपमा महसुस गर्नेछन् । जुन व्यक्तिको हृदयमा ख्रीष्टको वास भएको हुन्छ सो व्यक्तिले आफ्ना अभिभावकहरूलाई हेरबिचार गर्ने तथा कोमल सहानुभूति प्रकट गर्ने क्रममा कदापि असफल हुने छैनन् ।PAP 116.1 महिमाको परमप्रभु अब मानवजातिको छुटकाराको मोलको रूपमा मर्दैहुनुहुन्थ्यो । ख्रीष्टले आफ्नो अमूल्य जीवन सुम्पनुभएता पनि मानिसहरूले उहाँप्रति जय हर्ष गरेनन् । सर्वत्र क्रूर अन्धकार थियो । उहाँ मृत्युको भयद्वारा दबिनुभएको थिएन । उहाँमा अवर्णनीय वेदना उत्पन्न गर्ने वास्तवमा क्रूसको पीडा तथा अपमान थिएन । ख्रीष्ट दुःखीहरूका राजकुमार हुनुहुन्थ्यो; तर उहाँको पीडाको वास्तविक कारण पापको उग्ररूपको चेतनाले गर्दा तथा पापमै लिप्त हुनपुगेका मानिसहरू यसको घोरता प्रति अन्धो बन्नपुगेका कारण उत्पन्न भएको थियो । मावन हृदयमा पापको पकड कति गहिरो हुनुपुगेको छ तथा कति कम मानिसहरूले मात्र यसको शक्तिदेखि छुटकारा पाउने इच्छा गर्नेछन् भन्ने कुरा ख्रीष्टले बुझ्नुभयो । परमेश्वरको सहायताबिना मानवजाति मर्नुपर्नेछ भन्ने कुरा उहाँलाई थाहा थियो, र धेरै मानिसहरू प्रचुर सहायताको पहुँचका बाबजुद मरिरहेका उहाँले देख्नुभयो ।PAP 117.1 ख्रीष्ट हाम्रा बदला तथा धितो हुनुभएकोले उहाँमाथि हामी सबैको पाप खन्याइएको थियो । उहाँ एक पापीको रूपमा गनिनुभयो, ताकि उहाँले हामीलाई व्यवस्थाको दोषदेखि उद्धार गर्न सक्नुहुनेछ । आदमका सारा पुस्ताहरूका पापको बोझले उहाँको हृदयलाई दबाइरहेको थियो । पापविरुद्ध परमेश्वरको क्रोध, तथा दुष्टताप्रति परमेश्वरको नाराबाजीले उहाँको पुत्रलाई व्याकुलताको भावनाले भरिपूर्ण तुल्यायो । ख्रीष्टले संसारमा बिताउनु भएको समयकाल भरी नै पतित संसारलाई परमेश्वर पिताको करुणा तथा क्षमाशील प्रेमको सुुसमाचारको बारेमा प्रचार गर्दै आउनुभएको थियो । पापीहरूलाई मुक्ति दिलाउनु नै उहाँको प्रमुख बिषय थियो । तर अहिले दोषको भयानक बोझका कारण उहाँले पिताको मुहारलाई देख्नुभएन । यस महा वेदनाको समयमा जब परमेश्वरको मुहार मुक्तिदातादेखि हट्नपुग्यो तब यसले उहाँको हृदयलाई एक यस्तो वेदनाद्वारा छेडिदियो जसलाई मानिसले कदापि पूर्णरूपमा बुझ्नेछैनन् । यो वेदना यति असामान्य थियो कि उहाँले आफ्नो शारीरिक पीडालाई मुश्किलले महसुस गर्नुभयो ।PAP 117.2 शैतानले आफ्नो उग्र परीक्षाका साथ येशूको हृदयलाई निचोऱ्यो । मुक्तिदाताले चिहानको द्वारदेखि पर केहि देख्नुभएन । उहाँले चिहानदेखि एक विजेताको रूपमा बौरिउठ्ने आशा देख्नुभएन, न त पिताले उहाँको बलिदानलाई स्वीकार गर्नुभएको छ भन्ने आशा नै गर्न सक्नुभयो । परमेश्वरको नजरमा पाप यति घीनलाग्दो छ कि परमेश्वरसँगको उहाँको बिछोड अनन्तको हुने पो हुने हो कि भन्ने भय उहाँमा छायो । ख्रीष्टले एक यस्तो वेदनाको महसुस गर्नुभयो जुन वेदना पापी मानवजातिले त्यतिखेर महसुस गर्नेछन् जब करुणाले तिनीहरूका निम्ति बिन्ति गर्नेछैन । पापप्रति यही चेतना तथा मानवजातिको बदलाको हैसियतले उहाँमाथि पिताको क्रोध खन्याइएको यही भानका कारण उहाँले पिउनुभएको कचौरा अति तीतो सावित भयो, तथा परमेश्वरको पुत्रको हृदयलाई छियाछिया पाऱ्यो ।PAP 118.1 स्वर्गदूतहरूले मुक्तिदाताको नैराश्यताले भरिपूर्ण वेदनालाई आश्चर्यपूर्वक हेरे । स्वर्गीय गणको त्यस भयानक दृश्यप्रति आफ्ना आँखा छोपे । निर्जीव प्रकृतिले समेत आफ्नो अपमानित तथा मृत्युको सामना गरिरहनुभएको मालिकप्रति सहानुभूति व्यक्त गरिन् । सूर्यले त्यस भयानक दृश्यप्रति नजर लगाउन इन्कार गऱ्यो । दिउँसै चम्किरहेको सूर्य पनि अचानक अन्धकार बन्नपुग्यो । कात्रोझैं पूर्ण अन्धकारले क्रूसलाई ढाक्यो । “अब मध्यान्हदेखि तीन बजेसम्म सारा देशमा अन्धकार भयो ।” यसरी अन्धकार उत्पन्न गर्नका निम्ति त्यहाँ कुनै ग्रहण वा अन्य कुनै त्यस्तो प्राकृतिक कारण थिएन, र सो अन्धकार वास्तवमा चन्द्रमा वा ताराविहीन मध्यरातजस्तै गहिरो थियो । यो परमेश्वरद्वारा दिइएको अलौकिक गवाही थियो ताकि यसमार्फत भावी पुस्ताहरूका विश्वास दृढ बन्न पुग्नेछ ।PAP 119.1 त्यस गहिरो अन्धकारमा परमेश्वरको उपस्थिति लुकेको थियो । परमेश्वरले अन्धकारलाई आफ्नो पाल बनाउनुभयो, र मानव आँखादेखि आफ्नो महिमा लुकाउनुभयो । परमेश्वर उहाँका पवित्र स्वर्गदूतहरूका साथ क्रूसको सामु उपस्थित हुनुहुन्थ्यो । परमेश्वर पिता उहाँको पुत्रको साथमा हुनुहुन्थ्यो । यदि बादलदेखि उहाँको महिमा चम्किएको भए सो महिमा देख्नेजति सबै मानिसहरूका विनाश हुनेथियो । र त्यस भयावह घडीमा समेत ख्रीष्टले पिताको उपस्थितिको शान्त्वना पाउनुभएन । उहाँले एक्लै कोलको भार थाम्नुभयो, र उहाँसँग कुनै मानिसहरू थिएनन् ।PAP 119.2 यस घोर अन्धकारमा परमेश्वरले आफ्नो पुत्रको अन्तिम मानव वेदनालाई ढाक्नुभयो । ख्रीष्टको पीडा देख्नेजति सबैजना उहाँको ईश्वरत्वको बारेमा विश्वस्त भएका थिए । जबकि एक हत्याराको हैसियतले कयिनको अनुहारले आफ्नो दोष प्रकट गरेको थियो भने ख्रीष्टको अनुहारले चाहिँ निर्दोषिता, निर्मलता, परोपकारिता, तथा स्वयम् परमेश्वरकै स्वरूप प्रकट गरेको थियो । तर उहाँलाई सताउनेहरूले स्वर्गको लालमोहर ख्रीष्टप्रति ध्यान दिएनन् । ख्रीष्टको लामो वेदनाले भरिपूर्ण समयावधिभर नै गिल्ला गरिरहेका भीडले उहाँतर्फ हेरेका थिए । अब उहाँलाई करुणापूर्वक परमेश्वरको आवरणद्वारा ढाकिएको थियो ।PAP 119.3 कलवरीमा चिहानको सन्नाटा छाएको भान हुन्थ्यो । क्रूस वरिपरि भेला भएका भीडमाझ अज्ञात त्रास छायो । अर्ध उच्चारित शब्दहरूका बीचमा सराप्ने तथा गालीगलौज गर्ने क्रम बन्द हुनपुग्यो । पुरुष, स्त्री, तथा बालबालिकाहरू जमीनमा लम्पसार परे । पटक पटक आकाशमा उज्ज्वल चट्याङ्ग चम्कियो र क्रूस अनि क्रूसमा टाँगिनुभएको मुक्तिदातालाई प्रकट गऱ्यो । पूजाहारी, शासक, धर्मगुरु, उहाँलाई सजाय दिने मानिसहरू, तथा उपस्थित भीडले आफूमाथि प्रतिहिंसाको समय आएको छ भन्ने बिचार लिए । केही समयपछि केही मानिसहरूले अब येशू क्रूसदेखि ओर्लनुहुनेछ भनी कानेखुशी गरे । केही मानिसहरू आफ्ना छाती पिट्दै तथा भयका साथ चिच्याउँदै पुनः शहरतिर छामछुम गर्दै फर्किने प्रयत्न गरे ।PAP 120.1 दिउँसो तीन बजेतिर मानिसहरूदेखि अन्धकार हट्यो, तर त्यस अन्धकारले मुक्तिदातालाई भने अझै ढाकिरह्यो । उहाँको हृदयलाई जुन बिरह तथा त्रासको बोझले दबाएको थियो यो त्यसैको प्रतीक थियो । क्रूसलाई ढाकेको अन्धकारलाई कुनै आँखाले चिन सक्दैनथ्यो, र ख्रीष्टको पीडित आत्मालाई ढाकेको अझ गहिरो अन्धकारलाई कसैले पनि छेड्न सक्दैनथ्यो । जब उहाँ क्रूसमा टाँगिनुभएको थियो तब उहाँमाथि क्रोधित चट्याङ्ग प्रहार गरिएको जस्तो देखिन्थ्यो । तब “येशू यसो भनेर ठूलो सोरले कराउनुभयो, इलोई, इलोई, लामा सबखथनी ?” “हे मेरा परमेश्वर, हे मेरा परमेश्वर, तपाईंले मलाई किन त्याग्नुभएको छ ?” जब मुक्तिदातालाई ढाकेको बाह्य अन्धकार हटेर गयो तब कैयौं मानिसहरूले उहाँमाथि परमेश्वरको बदला आइपरेको छ भन्ने धारणा व्यक्त गरे । उहाँले स्वयम्लाई परमेश्वरको पुत्रको रूपमा दाबी गर्नुभएको कारण परमेश्वरको क्रोधको वज्र उहाँमाथि प्रहार गरिएको हो भनी तिनीहरूले बताए । उहाँमाथि विश्वास गर्ने धेरैले उहाँको निराशपूर्ण चित्कारलाई सुने । तिनीहरूका आशाजति सबै बिलाएर गए । यदि परमेश्वरले येशूलाई त्याग्नुभयो भने अब उहाँका चेलाहरूले केमाथि विश्वास गर्ने त ?PAP 120.2 जब ख्रीष्टको टुक्रिएको आत्मादेखि अन्धकार हटेर गयो तब उहाँले शारीरिक पीडाका साथ चेतनालाभ गर्नुभयो र उहाँले “मलाई प्यास लागेको छ” भनी बोल्नुभयो । जब एक रोमी सिपाहीले उहाँको सुकेको ओंठ देख्यो तब उसमा करुणाको भावना उत्पन्न भयो र हिस्सपको लठ्ठीमा स्पन्ज राखी सो स्पन्जलाई सिरकाको भाँडामा डुबाई येशूलाई दियो । तर पूजाहारीहरूले उहाँको वेदनाप्रति खिल्ली उडाए । जब पृथ्वी अन्धकारद्वारा ढाकिन पुगेको थियो तब तिनीहरू भयभीत बन्न पुगेका थिए; र जब तिनीहरूमा त्रासको भावना घटेर गयो तब अझ पनि येशू तिनीहरूको हातदेखि उम्कनुहुनेछ भन्ने भय तिनीहरूमा फर्कियो । तिनीहरूले उहाँको “इलोई, इलोई, लामा सबखथनी ?” “हे मेरा परमेश्वर, हे मेरा परमेश्वर, तपाईंले मलाई किन त्याग्नुभएको छ ?” भन्ने कथनको गलत अर्थ लगाएका थिए । तीतो अवहेलना तथा खिसीका साथ तिनीहरूले यसो भने, “यस मानिसले एलियालाई बोलाउँदैछ ।” उहाँको पीडालाई हटाउने अन्तिम सुअवसरलाई समेत तिनीहरूले इन्कार गरे । तिनीहरूले भने, “हेरौं, कतै एलिया यिनलाई बचाउन आउँछन् कि ?”PAP 121.1 परमेश्वरको निष्खोट पुत्र क्रूसमा टाँगिनुभयो, उहाँको शरीर कोर्राद्वारा छियाछिया बन्नपुगेको थियो; उहाँका जुन हात सदा आशिष बाँड्ने कार्यमा सरिक हुने गर्दथे अहिले क्रूसमा कीलाद्वारा बाँधिनपुगेका छन्; जुन गोडा प्रेमिलो सेवाकाइमा अथक रहने गर्थे तिनका क्रूसमा राखी कीला लगाइएको छ; त्यस राजकीय शिरलाई काँढे मुकुटले छेडेको थियो तथा मानिसको वियोगान्त रोदन भगाउने उहाँको ओंठ अहिले काँप्दैथियो । उहाँले भोग्नुभएका सबै कुराहरू-उहाँको शिरदेखि बगेका रगतका थोपाहरू, क्रूसमा कीला ठोकिएका उहाँका हात गोडाहरू, उहाँको शरीरलाई सर्वनाश पार्ने विरह, तथा पिताले उहाँदेखि आफ्नो मुहार लुकाउनुहुँदाको अवर्णनीय वेदनाले मानवजातिलाई यसरी घोषणा गर्दछ, “परमेश्वरको पुत्र हाम्रै खातिर पापको भार बहन गर्न राजी हुनुभयो; हाम्रै खातिर उहाँले मृत्युको प्रभुत्वलाई जित्नुभयो, र स्वर्गको ढोकालाई खोल्नुभयो ।” जुन येशूले क्रोधित छाललाई शान्त पार्नुभएको थियो । तथा जो फीँजले भरिएको लहरमा हिँड्नु भएको थियो, जसले दुष्टात्माहरूलाई काम्ने तुल्याउनुभएको थियो तथा रोगलाई भगाउनु भएको थियो, जसले अन्धो आँखालाई खोल्नुभएको थियो तथा मृतकलाई बिउँताउनुभएको थियो-उहाँले स्वयम्लाई क्रूसमा एक बलिदानको रूपमा अर्पण गर्नुभयो र हामीप्रति उहाँमा भएको प्रेमकै कारण उहाँले यी सबै कष्टहरू भोग्नुभयो । उहाँले एक पाप वहन गर्नुहुने अस्तित्वको हैसियतले ईश्वरीय इन्साफको क्रोध सहनुभयो, र हाम्रै खातिर पापी बन्नुभयो ।PAP 122.1 मानिसहरूले निःशब्दताका साथ भयानक दृश्यको अन्त्यलाई हेरे । सूर्य चम्कियो; तर क्रूस अझैपनि अन्धकारद्वारा ढाकिनपुगेको थियो । पूजाहारी तथा शासकहरूले यरुशलेमतर्फ हेरे; र शहर तथा यहूूदियाको फाँट घना बादलद्वारा भरिनपुगेको थियो । धार्मिकताको सूर्य, तथा संसारको ज्योतिले आफ्नो किरण कुनै समय निगाह प्राप्त गरेको शहरदेखि हटाउँदै हुनुहुन्थ्यो । परमेश्वरको क्रोधको भयानक चट्याङ्ग त्यस दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण शहरमाथि केन्द्रित थियो ।PAP 123.1 अचानक क्रूसदेखि अन्धकार हट्नपुग्यो, र स्पष्ट तुरहीको आवाजझैं येशूले “अब सिद्धियो” भनी कराउनुभयो जुन आवाज संसारभरी नै प्रतिध्वनी भएको भान हुन्थ्यो । क्रूसलाई ज्योतिले घेऱ्यो र मुत्तिदाताको मुहार सूर्यको उज्यालोपन झैं महिमाका साथ चम्किनपुग्यो । तब उहाँको छातीमा शिर झुक्नपुग्यो र उहाँको मृत्यु भयो ।PAP 123.2 भयानक अन्धकारमाझ, परमेश्वरद्वारा त्यागिनु भएपश्चात ख्रीष्टले मानव कष्टको कचौरादेखि अन्तिम थेग्रो पनि पिउनुभएको थियो । त्यस भयानक घडीमा उहाँलाई त्यस समयसम्म प्रदान गरिएको पिताको स्वीकारको प्रमाणमाथि उहाँले भरोसा गर्नुभएको थियो । उहाँ आफ्नो पिताको चरित्रदेखि परिचित हुनुहुन्थ्यो; उहाँले पिताको इन्साफ, करुणा, तथा उहाँको महान् प्रेमलाई बुझ्नुहुन्थ्यो । विश्वासद्वारा उहाँले परमेश्वरमा विश्राम लिनुभएको थियो जसको उहाँ आज्ञा पालन गर्नु उहाँको निम्ति सदा आनन्दको विषय थियो । जब उहाँले त्यागका साथ स्वयम् आफैलाई परमेश्वरमा समर्पण गर्नुभयो तब उहाँमाथि परमेश्वरको निगाह गुम्नपुगेको छ भन्ने चेतना उहाँको मनमा पुनः फर्कियो । विश्वासद्वारा ख्रीष्ट विजयी हुनुहुन्थ्यो ।PAP 123.3 यसअघि संसारले कहिल्यै पनि यसप्रकारको दृश्य देखेको थिएन । मानिसहरू अचेततुल्य खडा भए, र एकटक मुक्तिदातालाई हेरे । पुनः पृथ्वीमा अन्धकार छायो, र मेघ गर्जेझैं कर्कश गर्जन सुन्न सकिन्थ्यो । त्यहाँ शक्तिशाली भुइँचालो आयो । भुइँचालोले मानिसहरूलाई एकै साथ हल्लायो । सर्वत्र भयानक व्याकुलता तथा त्रास छायो । वरिपरिका पहाडहरूदेखि चट्टानहरू फुटे अनि बेसीतर्फ गुड्न थाले । चिहानहरू खुले र मृतकहरू आफ्ना चिहानदेखि निस्के । प्रकृतिका सारा वस्तुहरूका अणुहरू समेत कम्पन भएको भान हुन्थ्यो । पूजाहारी, शासक, सिपाहीहरू उहाँलाई सजाय दिने मानिसहरू, तथा भीड त्रसित भएर चुप लाग्दै भुइँमा लम्पसार परे ।PAP 124.1 जब ख्रीष्टको ओंठदेखि “अब सिद्धियो” भन्ने चर्को आवाज आयो तब पूजाहारीहरू मन्दिरमा पुरोहित्याइँ गर्दैथिए । यो बेलुकीको बलिदानको समय थियो । ख्रीष्टलाई प्रतिनिधित्व गर्ने थुमालाई बली चढाउन ल्याइएको थियो । अब्राहाम आफ्नो पुत्रमाथि छुरा प्रहार गर्न उभिएझैं पूजाहारी पनि महत्वपूर्ण तथा सुन्दर बस्त्रका साथ हातमा छुरा लिई उभिएको थियो । मानिसहरू तीव्र इच्छाका साथ यस दृश्यलाई हेरिरहेका थिए । तर पृथ्वी कम्पायमान हुन तथा डगमगाउन थाल्यो; किनकि स्वयम् परमप्रभु आफै आउनुभएको थियो । चर्को आवाजका साथ मन्दिरको भित्री पर्दा एक अदृश्य हातद्वारा माथिदेखि तलसम्मै च्यातिनपुगेको थियो, र मानिसहरूका सामु त्यस स्थानलाई खुला तुल्याइदियो जुन कुनै समय परमेश्वरको उपस्थितिद्वारा भरिपूर्ण हुने गर्दथ्यो । यहाँ नै शिकैनाको वास हुन्थ्यो । यहाँ नै कृपा आसनको माथि परमेश्वरले आफ्नो महिमा प्रकट गर्नुहुन्थ्यो । प्रधान पूजाहारीले बाहेक कसैले पनि मन्दिरको यस भागलाई अन्य भागसँग छुट्याउले पर्दालाई उठाउँदैनथे । वर्षको एकपटक मात्र प्रधान पूजाहारी मानिसहरूका पाप प्रायश्चित गर्न त्यस कोठामा प्रवेश गर्ने गर्दथ्यो । तर यो पर्दा दुई भागमा च्यातियो । पृथ्वीको पवित्रस्थानको महा-पवित्रस्थान यस उप्रान्त पवित्र रहेन ।PAP 124.2 सर्वत्र त्रास तथा व्याकुलता छायो । पूजाहारी थुमालाई प्रहार गर्नेवाला थियो; तर उसको शक्तिहीन हातदेखि छुरा खस्यो र थुमा फुत्कियो । परमेश्वरको पुत्रको मृत्युद्वारा रूपले प्रतिरूप भेट्यो । महान् बलिदान गरि सकिएको छ । महा-पवित्रस्थानसम्मको मार्ग खुला हुनपुग्यो । सबैका लागि एक नयाँ तथा जीवित मार्ग तयार पारिएको छ । यस उप्रान्त पापी तथा शोकाकुल मानवजातिले प्रधान पूजाहारीको आगमनको प्रतिक्षा गर्नुपर्ने छैन । यस उप्रान्त मुक्तिदाताले पूजाहारीको रूपमा पुरोहित्याइँ तथा स्वर्गमा वकालत गर्नुपर्नेछ । यो त एक जीवित वाणीले सबै उपासकहरूसँग बोले सरह थियो । अब त्यहाँ सबै बलिदान तथा पाप बलिहरूका अन्त्य भयो । उहाँको यस वचनमुताविक परमेश्वरको पुत्र आउनुभएको छ, “तपाईको इच्छा पूरा गर्न म आएको छु ।” “आफ्नै रगतद्वारा अनन्त उद्धार प्राप्त गरिदिएर सधैंको निम्ति एकै पटक महा-पवित्रस्थान भित्र उहाँ प्रवेश गर्नुभयो ।” हिब्रू १०:७; ९:१२ ।PAP 125.1