o was much perturbed. But collecting himself he asked,
"What did he order about the breaking of the bones?"

"About this matter he said he would give his orders to the centurion,"
answered the rabbi.

Then seeing that no more could be done, the Jews began to revile Jesus,
going up to the cross and wagging their heads and scoffing at him.
Josue, the priest, went up first and said, "So then it remains written,
king of the Jews. Behold, if thou art king of Israel, come down now
from the cross, that we may see and believe." And all the Jews laughed
together.

Then said Eliezer, "Thou that destroyest the temple and buildest it
again in three days, save thyself!"

And Caiaphas said, "Ha! thou that savest others, thyself thou canst not
save."

"Come down," cried one of the witnesses, "Art thou not the Son of God?"

And Annas said, "He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he will
have him."

Then cried the hangmen, "What! Don't you hear? Show thy power, mighty
king of the Jews," and so the sport went on.

Then Jesus, who all this time had hung motionless and silent, raised
slowly and with pain, his head, which had been bowed down, and said,
"Father, forgive them, they know not what they do!"

Hearing Jesus speak, the thief who was crucified on his left said unto
him, "Hearest thou? If thou be Christ save thyself and us."

But the other thief who was crucified on the right, answered and said,
"Dost thou not fear God, seeing that 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 turning to Jesus he said,
"Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom?"

Then Jesus looked upon him and said, "Verily, I say unto thee, today
shalt thou be with me in Paradise."

"Listen to that," said Caiaphas scornfully, "he speaks as if he had
power over the gates of Paradise."

"What," said the rabbi. "Have not his pride and presumption deserted
him even as he hangs helpless on the cross?" And they were wroth with
Jesus.

During all this time Mary, the mother of Jesus, and John had been
slowly approaching the cross, and now they stood immediately below
Jesus, Mary on the right, John on the left. Then Jesus beholding them,
said to Mary, "Mother, behold thy son." And slowly and with difficulty
turning his head to see John, Jesus added, "Son, behold thy mother."

Then Mary cried in ecstacy of love and adoration, "Even