Pilate at last delivered Jesus over to be crucified. "And he went out
bearing the cross for himself." Through loss of sleep and loss of
blood, worn out with the long agony, Jesus fainted, and fell beneath
the load of the cross. They compelled a man whom they met coming in
from the country, Simon the Cyrenean, to bear the cross for Jesus,
and thus, accompanied by a crowd of people, they came at last to
Calvary. The scene which followed has been painted hundreds of times,
as a whole, and in detail, sometimes with almost revolting realism,
sometimes with fascinating power.
_Hofmann, Plate 146,_ represents Jesus carrying the cross to Calvary
(John 19:17), and the women who bewailed and lamented him. (Luke
23:27.) The company is just going through the Damascus gate.
[Illustration: Bearing the Cross.]
Plate 146. _Bearing the Cross._ H. Hofmann. 1824-
_Thiersch, Plate 147,_ gives the tragic incident which occurred just
outside the gate. Jesus has fallen. He is speaking to the women the
words recorded in Luke 23:28-31. Calvary is seen in the distance
where the crosses for the two thieves have already been placed. There
they crucified him between the two thieves.
[Illustration: Bearing the Cross.]
Plate 147. _Bearing the Cross._ Ludwig Thiersch.
_Munkacsy, Plate 149,_ gives us a picture of the retreating soldiers
after the awful deed has been done. "The people stood beholding . . .
the rulers scoffed at him, the chief priests mocked, the scribes
said, He saved others; himself he cannot save." (Luke 23:35, Mark
15:31.) Darkness is coming upon the earth. In _Plate 150,_ John and
the three Marys are at the foot of the cross. (John 19:25.)
[Illustration: The Crucifixion.]
Plate 149. _The Crucifixion._ M. Munkacsy. 1844-
[Illustration: Christ on the Cross and the Three Marys.]
Plate 150. _Christ on the Cross and the Three Marys._ M. Munkacsy.
1844-
_Hofmann, Plate 148,_ has chosen a later moment. Jesus has committed
his mother to the care of John (John 19:26-27), and with the word,
"It is finished," has given up his spirit into his Father's hands.
(Luke 23:46.) Amid rending rocks and opening tombs the Centurion is
saying, "Truly this was the Son of God." (Matt. 27:54.)
[Illustration: The Crucifixion.]
Plate 148. _The Crucifixion._ H. Hofmann. 1824-
_Rubens, Plate 151,_ illustrates most graphically Mark 15:42-47.
Joseph of Arimathaea went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of
Jesus. His request being granted, "he brought a linen cloth, and
taking him down, wound him in the linen cloth." (Mark 15:46.) "And
there came also Nicodemus, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes." So
they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths, with the
spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. (John 19:39-40.)
[Illustration: Descent from the Cross.]
Plate 151. _Descent from the Cross._ Rubens. 1577-1640.
_Gerome, Plate 153,_ has given the most weird and graphic
representation of the deserted hill and the doomed city. The
supernatural darkness is passing. A flood of lurid light pours upon
Calvary, casting the ominous shadows of the crosses towards the
retreating multitude. In the distance the livid temple marks the
place of the rending veil. (Mark 15:38.)
[Illustration: Golgotha.]
Plate 153. _Golgotha._ J. L. Gerome. 1824-
_Morris, Plate 152,_ has drawn the deserted cross. An unknown woman
lifts her little boy that he may see that which was written above the
head of Christ. "And there was written, Jesus of Nazareth, The King
of the Jews . . . in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek." (John
19:19-22.)
[Illustration: Whereon They Crucified Him.]
Plate 152. _Whereon They Crucified Him._ P. R. Morris.