Then saith he to the disciple, "Behold, thy mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her unto his own home.

And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "_Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?_" that is, "My G.o.d, my G.o.d, why hast thou forsaken me?"

And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, "Behold, he calleth Elijah."

And one ran, and filling a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. But others said, "Let him alone; let us see whether Elijah cometh to take him down."

When Jesus therefore had received the wine, he said, "It is finished": and he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit.

And when the centurion, which stood by over against him, saw that he so gave up his spirit, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of G.o.d."

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X

THE BURIAL

_How the Body of the Lord Jesus Was Buried in a Rich Man's Tomb_.

The Jews therefore, because it was the Preparation (that is, the day before the Sabbath), and because bodies should not remain on the cross upon the Sabbath, asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. The soldiers therefore came, and broke the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him: but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they broke not his legs: but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and straightway there came out blood and water.

And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a councilor, a good man and a righteous (he had not consented to their counsel and deed), a man of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was looking for the kingdom of G.o.d: this man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was hewn in stone, where never man had yet lain. And he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.

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Now on the morrow, which is the day after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together unto Pilate, saying, "Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, 'After three days I rise again.' Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day, lest haply his disciples come and steal him away, and say unto the people, 'He is risen from the dead': and the last error will be worse than the first."

Pilate said unto them, "Ye have a guard: go your way, make it as sure as ye can."

So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, the guard being with them.

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

THE WOMEN AT THE TOMB.

By Bouguereau (1825-1905) [End ill.u.s.tration]

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CHRIST, THE LORD, IS RISEN TO-DAY

"Christ, the Lord, is risen to-day,"

Sons of men and angels say.

Raise your joys and triumphs high; Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply.

Love's redeeming work is done, Fought the fight, the battle won.

Lo, our Sun's eclipse is o'er; Lo, He sets in blood no more.

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal; Christ has burst the gates of h.e.l.l; Death in vain forbids His rise: Christ has opened Paradise.

Lives again our glorious King: Where, O death, is now thy sting?

Once He died our souls to save: Where thy victory, O grave?

Soar we now where Christ has led, Following our exalted Head: Made like Him, like Him we rise; Ours the cross, the grave, the skies.

Hail, the Lord of earth and Heaven!

Praise to Thee by both be given: Thee we greet triumphant now; Hail, the Resurrection Thou!

--_Rev. Charles Wesley_.

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THE NEAREST FRIEND

Dear Jesus, ever at my side, How loving Thou must be, To leave Thy home in heaven to guard A little child like me.

Thy beautiful and shining face I see not, though so near; The sweetness of Thy soft voice I am too deaf to hear.

I cannot feel Thee touch my hand, With pressure light and mild, To check me, as my mother did When I was but a child.

But I have felt Thee in my thoughts, Fighting with sin for me; And when my heart loves G.o.d, I know The sweetness is from Thee.

Yes, when I pray, Thou prayest, too, The prayer is all for me; But when I sleep Thou sleepest not, But watchest patiently.

--_F. W. Faber_.

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STILL, STILL WITH THEE

Still, still with Thee, my G.o.d.

I would desire to be; By day, by night, at home, abroad, I would be still with Thee.

With Thee when dawn comes in, And calls me back to care, Each day returning to begin With Thee, my G.o.d, in prayer.

With Thee when day is done, And evening calms the mind; The setting, as the rising, sun With Thee my heart would find.

With Thee, in Thee, by faith Abiding I would be; By day, by night, in life, in death, I would be still with Thee.

--_James D. Burns_.

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OH, WORSHIP THE KING

Oh, worship the King, all-glorious above, And gratefully sing his wonderful love; Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of days, Pavilioned in splendor, and girdled with praise.