o lay his head, a man of sorrows and
acquainted with grief? Only a little while ago, and the midnight
stillness of Gethsemane is gently broken by the words: "Father, if it
be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not my will, but
thine be done." The spirit of obedience abides with him in full
measure even in this trying hour; and if not uttered in words, it is
declared in act: "Thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness."

One more trial awaits him. It is his last and great conflict with the
"king of terrors" and the powers of darkness. Will his spirit of
obedience and his resistance of sin bear the strain of this final
test? Glory to his blessed name, it does. He says: "The prince of this
world cometh, and hath nothing in me." Ah, there is our salvation. The
prince of this world found no place in his sanctified heart.
Throughout his trial before the Jewish, as well as civil authorities,
he was the same. No change from that meekness and lowliness of heart
that characterized his whole life was visible now. He even bore his
own cross; and I sometimes think that he voluntarily laid himself down
upon it, placed his hands and adjusted his feet for the nails; for he
had said before: "I lay down my life of myself: no man taketh it from
me. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again."
The nails are driven. The foot of the cross, with Jesus upon it, is
firmly fixed in the ground. The sun has veiled his face; and darkness
broods over the land. With a loud voice he cries: "It is finished,"
and he gave up his spirit. This is the consummation of the suffering
by which the Captain of our salvation was perfected, and by which he
obtained all power in heaven and earth.

I can imagine there was now a shout of joy and a high jubilee in
heaven, and a growl of disappointment and defeat in hell. His body is
taken from the cross. Not a bone of him is broken. Joseph's new tomb
becomes its receptacle. Not long does it remain there. The bands of
death are loosed, and the glorified Lord forsakes the tomb. "Ought not
the Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his
glory?"

Notice, further, the glory and honor with which his obedience is
rewarded. In addition to the declarations bearing upon this subject
already quoted, I here add what Paul says to the Philippians:
"Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name
which is above every name: that in the name of Jesus every k