the desire of ages-第186章

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ierced　hands　and　feet；　and　their　anguish　was　indescribable。　Until　the　last　they　had　not　believed　that　He　would　die；　they　could　hardly　believe　that　He　was　really　dead。　Overwhelmed　with　sorrow；　they　did　not　recall　His　words　foretelling　this　very　scene。　Nothing　that　He　had　said　now　gave　them　comfort。　They　saw　only　the　cross　and　its　bleeding　Victim。　The　future　seemed　dark　with　despair。　Their　faith　in　Jesus　had　perished；　but　never　had　they　loved　their　Lord　as　now。　Never　before　had　they　so　felt　His　worth；　and　their　need　of　His　presence。

Even　in　death；　Christ's　body　was　very　precious　to　His　disciples。　They　longed　to　give　Him　an　honored　burial；　but　knew　not　how　to　accomplish

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this。　Treason　against　the　Roman　government　was　the　crime　for　which　Jesus　was　condemned；　and　persons　put　to　death　for　this　offense　were　consigned　to　a　burial　ground　especially　provided　for　such　criminals。　The　disciple　John　with　the　women　from　Galilee　had　remained　at　the　cross。　They　could　not　leave　the　body　of　their　Lord　to　be　handled　by　the　unfeeling　soldiers；　and　buried　in　a　dishonored　grave。　Yet　they　could　not　prevent　it。　They　could　obtain　no　favors　from　the　Jewish　authorities；　and　they　had　no　influence　with　Pilate。

In　this　emergency；　Joseph　of　Arimathaea　and　Nicodemus　came　to　the　help　of　the　disciples。　Both　these　men　were　members　of　the　Sanhedrin；　and　were　acquainted　with　Pilate。　Both　were　men　of　wealth　and　influence。　They　were　determined　that　the　body　of　Jesus　should　have　an　honorable　burial。

Joseph　went　boldly　to　Pilate；　and　begged　from　him　the　body　of　Jesus。　For　the　first　time；　Pilate　learned　that　Jesus　was　really　dead。　Conflicting　reports　had　reached　him　in　regard　to　the　events　attending　the　crucifixion；　but　the　knowledge　of　Christ's　death　had　been　purposely　kept　from　him。　Pilate　had　been　warned　by　the　priests　and　rulers　against　deception　by　Christ's　disciples　in　regard　to　His　body。　Upon　hearing　Joseph's　request；　he　therefore　sent　for　the　centurion　who　had　charge　at　the　cross；　and　learned　for　a　certainty　of　the　death　of　Jesus。　He　also　drew　from　him　an　account　of　the　scenes　of　Calvary；　confirming　the　testimony　of　Joseph。

The　request　of　Joseph　was　granted。　While　John　was　troubled　about　the　burial　of　his　Master；　Joseph　returned　with　Pilate's　order　for　the　body　of　Christ；　and　Nicodemus　came　bringing　a　costly　mixture　of　myrrh　and　aloes；　of　about　a　hundred　pounds'　weight；　for　His　embalming。　The　most　honored　in　all　Jerusalem　could　not　have　been　shown　more　respect　in　death。　The　disciples　were　astonished　to　see　these　wealthy　rulers　as　much　interested　as　they　themselves　in　the　burial　of　their　Lord。

Neither　Joseph　nor　Nicodemus　had　openly　accepted　the　Saviour　while　He　was　living。　They　knew　that　such　a　step　would　exclude　them　from　the　Sanhedrin；　and　they　hoped　to　protect　Him　by　their　influence　in　its　councils。　For　a　time　they　had　seemed　to　succeed；　but　the　wily　priests；　seeing　their　favor　to　Christ；　had　thwarted　their　plans。　In　their　absence　Jesus　had　been　condemned　and　delivered　to　be　crucified。　Now　that　He　was　dead；　they　no　longer　concealed　their　attachment　to　Him。　While　the　disciples　feared　to　show　themselves　openly　as　His　followers；

774

Joseph　and　Nicodemus　came　boldly　to　their　aid。　The　help　of　these　rich　and　honored　men　was　greatly　needed　at　this　time。　They　could　do　for　their　dead　Master　what　it　was　impossible　for　the　poor　disciples　to　do；　and　their　wealth　and　influence　protected　them；　in　a　great　measure；　from　the　malice　of　the　priests　and　rulers。

Gently　and　reverently　they　removed　with　their　own　hands　the　body　of　Jesus　from　the　cross。　Their　tears　of　sympathy　fell　fast　as　they　looked　upon　His　bruised　and　lacerated　form。　Joseph　owned　a　new　tomb；　hewn　in　a　rock。　This　he　was　reserving　for　himself；　but　it　was　near　Calvary；　and　he　now　prepared　it　for　Jesus。　The　body；　together　with　the　spices　brought　by　Nicodemus；　was　carefully　wrapped　in　a　linen　sheet；　and　the　Redeemer　was　borne　to　the　tomb。　There　the　three　disciples　straightened　the　mangled　limbs；　and　folded　the　bruised　hands　upon　the　pulseless　breast。　The　Galilean　women　came　to　see　that　all　had　been　done　that　could　be　done　for　the　lifeless　form　of　their　beloved　Teacher。　Then　they　saw　the　heavy　stone　rolled　against　the　entrance　of　the　tomb；　and　the　Saviour　was　left　at　rest。　The　women　were　last　at　the　cross；　and　last　at　the　tomb　of　Christ。　While　the　evening　shades　were　gathering；　Mary　Magdalene　and　the　other　Marys　lingered　about　the　resting　place　of　their　Lord；　shedding　tears　of　sorrow　over　the　fate　of　Him　whom　they　loved。　〃And　they　returned；　。　。　。　and　rested　the　Sabbath　day　according　to　the　commandment。〃　Luke　23：56。

That　was　a　never…to…be…forgotten　Sabbath　to　the　sorrowing　disciples；　and　also　to　the　priests；　rulers；　scribes；　and　people。　At　the　setting　of　the　sun　on　the　evening　of　the　preparation　day　the　trumpets　sounded；　signifying　that　the　Sabbath　had　begun。　The　Passover　was　observed　as　it　had　been　for　centuries；　while　He　to　whom　it　pointed　had　been　slain　by　wicked　hands；　and　lay　in　Joseph's　tomb。　On　the　Sabbath　the　courts　of　the　temple　were　filled　with　worshipers。　The　high　priest　from　Golgotha　was　there；　splendidly　robed　in　his　sacerdotal　garments。　White…turbaned　priests；　full　of　activity；　performed　their　duties。　But　some　present　were　not　at　rest　as　the　blood　of　bulls　and　goats　was　offered　for　sin。　They　were　not　conscious　that　type　had　met　antitype；　that　an　infinite　sacrifice　had　been　made　for　the　sins　of　the　world。　They　knew　not　that　there　was　no　further　value　in　the　performance　of　the　ritual　service。　But　never　before　had　that　service　been　witnessed　with　such　conflicting　feelings。　The　trumpets　and　musical　instruments　and　the　voices　of　the　singers　were　as　loud　and　clear　as　usual。　But　a　sense　of　strangeness　pervaded　everything。

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One　after　another　inquired　about　a　strange　event　that　had　taken　place。　Hitherto　the　most　holy　place　had　been　sacredly　guarded　from　intrusion。　But　now　it　was　open　to　all　eyes。　The　heavy　veil　of　tapestry；　made　of　pure　linen；　and　beautifully　wrought　with　gold；　scarlet；　and　purple；　was　rent　from　top　to　bottom。　The　place　where　Jehovah　had　met　with　the　high　priest；　to　communicate　His　glory；　the　place　that　had　been　God's　sacred　audience　chamber；　lay　open　to　every　eye；a　place　no　longer　recognized　by　the　Lord。　With　gloomy　presentiments　the　priests　ministered　before　the　altar。　The　uncovering　of　the　sacred　mystery　of　the　most　holy　place　filled　them　with　dread　of　coming　calamity。

Many　minds　were　busy　with　thoughts　started　by　the　scenes　of　Calvary。　From　the　crucifixion　to　the　resurrection　many　sleepless　eyes　were　constantly　searching　the　prophecies；　some　to　learn　the　full　meaning　of　the　feast　they　were　then　celebrating；　some　to　find　evidence　that　Jesus　was　not　what　He　claimed　to　be；　and　others　with　sorrowful　hearts　were　searching　for　proofs　that　He　was　the　true　Messiah。　Though　searching　with　different　objects　in　view；　all　were　convicted　of　the　same　truth；that　prophecy　had　been　fulfilled　in　the　events　of　the　past　few　days；　and　that　the　Crucified　One　was　the　world's　Redeemer。　Many　who　at　that　time　united　in　the　service　never　again　took　part　in　the　paschal　rites。　Many　even　of　the　priests　were　convicted　of　the　true　character　of　Jesus。　Their　searching　of　the　prophecies　had　not　been　in　vain；　and　after　His　resurrection　they　acknowledged　Him　as　the　Son　of　God。

Nicodemus；　when　he　saw　Jesus　lifted　up　on　the　cross；　remembered　His　words　spoken　by　night　in　the　Mount　of　Olives：　〃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。〃　John　3：14；　15。　On　that　Sabbath；　when　Christ　lay　in　the　grave；　Nicodemus　had　opportunity　for　reflection。　A　clearer　light　now　illuminated　his　mind；　and　the　words　which　Jesus　had　spoken　to　him　were　no　longer　mysterious。　He　felt　that　he　had　lost　much　by　not　connecting　himself　with　the　Saviour　during　His　life。　Now　he　recalled　the　events　of　Calvary。　The　prayer　of　Christ　for　His　murderers　and　His　answer　to　the　petition　of　the　dying　thief　spoke　to　the　heart　of　the　learned　councilor。　Again　he　looked　upon　the　S