must have been dark as Egypt to her, and her heart must have been
sorrowful even unto death. The sword had pierced very deep.

II.

There were other women with Mary beneath the cross--two of them Marys,
like herself.[2] As an ancient father[3] has said, the weaker sex on
this occasion proved itself the stronger. When the apostles had
forsaken their Master and fled, these women were true to the last.
Perhaps, indeed, their sex protected them. Women can venture into some
places where men dare not go; and this is a talent which many women
have used for rendering services to the Saviour which men could not
have performed.

But there was one there who had not this protection, and who in
venturing so near must have taken his life in his hand. St. John, I
suppose, is included with the rest of the apostles in the sad statement
that they all forsook their Master and fled. But, if so, his panic can
only have lasted a moment. He was present at the very commencement of
the trial; and here he still is with his Master at the last--the only
one of all the Twelve. Perhaps, indeed, the acquaintance with the
high-priest, which availed him to get into the palace where the trial
took place, may still have operated in his favour. But it was most of
all his greater devotion that brought him to his Master's side. He who
had leaned on His breast could not stay away, whatever might be the
danger. And he had his reward; for he was permitted to render a last
service to Jesus amidst His agony, and he received from Him a token of
confidence which by a heart like his must have been felt to be an
unspeakable privilege and honour.

III.

It is most of all, however, with the impression made by the situation
on Jesus Himself that we wish to acquaint ourselves.

He looked on His mother; and it was with an unpreoccupied eye, that was
able to disengage its attention from every other object by which it was
solicited. He was suffering at the time an extremity of pain which
might have made Him insensible to everything beyond Himself. Or, if He
had composure enough to think, a dying man has many things to reflect
upon within his own mind. Christ, we know, had a whole world of
interests to attend to; for now He was engaged in a final wrestle with
the problem to which His whole life had been devoted. The prayer on
behalf of His enemies does not surprise us so much, for it may be said
to have been part of His office to intercede for sinn