April 13

John xix.—19. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

20. This title then read many of the Jews; for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew and Greek and Latin.

21. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate. Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.

22. Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written.

23. Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.

24. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it whose it shall be; that the scripture might be fulfilled which saith,

They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things, therefore, the soldiers did.

25. Now, there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

26. When Jesus, therefore, saw his mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

27. Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

28. After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

29. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar; and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.

30. When Jesus, therefore, had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished; and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

What strange, even violent, contrasts were witnessed in the last moments of the Saviour's life!—the vacillating governor rendering the tribute of his conscience to the "innocent" man whom his policy had sacrificed; the malignant Pharisees pursuing their victim with insults, even upon the cross; the rough soldiers raffling for their spoils, and unwittingly fulfilling prophecy; women looking on through their tears; the Son of man thirsting, loving, praying, dying! But how exquisite, amid these contrasted incidents, is the touch of humanity in the parting of Jesus from his mother! He had shown the divine elevation of his spirit in praying for the forgiveness of his murderers; he had exercised his divine prerogative as Redeemer, by promising salvation to the thief; and he unveils his human tenderness by designating from his cross a home

for his mother, and the disciple whom he loved to be to her, in his stead, as a son. In his mortal agony, as his soul was about to fall under the sword that smote him for our sakes, as he was entering into that horror of darkness that hid his Father's face, he turned to her that bare him, gave her a last look and word of love, and pointed her to a protector.

How beautiful, too, is Mary, in strength of character and fervor of affection, as she stands beneath the cross while the sword pierces her own soul, that she may look upon that dear face to the last!—as great in fortitude and endurance under trial as she had been humble, discreet, modest, and wise under the promise of mercy. How is the family relation exalted and sanctified in such a mother and such a son!

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 16, 42, 99.

Thou art the King of glory, O Christ! Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father. When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father. We believe that thou shalt come to be our Judge. We therefore pray thee help thy servants, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood: make them to be numbered with thy saints in glory everlasting.

We bless thee, O Lord! for the peace and comfort given us in Christ concerning those dear to us whom thou hast taken unto thyself: may we, by thy grace, walk in their steps in all things wherein they followed thee, and so live unto thee, day by day, that we shall be ready at all times for thy coming!

Merciful Saviour, we give thee thanks that thou didst enter into all the circumstances of our earthly condition, and didst sanctify all the relationships of life. Thou didst take little children in thine

arms, and bless them; thou didst hallow marriage by thy first miracle of power and grace; thou didst bless the home of Martha and Mary; thou didst provide for thy mother a home of love. Oh! bless this home, we pray thee,—parents, children, brothers, sisters, all kindred and friends. Give to every one of us the spirit of our blessed Lord.

O Thou who hast brought us again from sleep to behold the light of a new day! help us so to confide in thee, to keep thee ever so near and so precious to our thought, that we shall live above the fear of death, and look forward with joy to our final rest with thee. As children of the light, may we shun all evil, and show forth thy praise! Fill us this day with the peace of Christ and the hope of immortality; fill thy Church with the faith and the power of his resurrection. May this household, and all dear to us, be joined to the family of the saints on earth, and finally to the company of the redeemed in heaven, through Him who died for us!—to whom be glory forever. Amen.