University of Virginia Library

The real pillory

The burden of that hour was terrible beyond human conception. The distrust of mortal minds, disbelieving the purpose of his mission, was a million times sharper than the thorns which pierced his flesh. The real cross, which Jesus bore up the hill of grief, was the world's hatred of Truth and Love. Not the spear nor the material cross wrung from his faithful

lips the plaintive cry, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" It was the possible loss of something more important than human life which moved him, - the possible misappre- hension of the sublimest influence of his career. This dread added the drop of gall to his cup.