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MARK XV-THE CRUCIFIXION

8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.

9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. 11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.

12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? 13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.

14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.

15¶ And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Pretorium; and they call together the whole band.

17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,

18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!

19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.

20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. 21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his

cross.

22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.

23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.

24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.

25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

27 And with him they crucified two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.

28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.1

29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, 30 Save thyself, and come down from the cross.

31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.

Isaiah 53, 12. This verse is omitted in the Revised Version. It appears in Luke 22, 37.

The Palsied Man Forgiven

BY EDUARD VON GEBHARDT, THE GERMAN ARTIST. BY PERMISSION OF THE BERLIN PHOTOGRAPHIC CO.

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“And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay."Mark, 2, 4.

J

ESUS bade the healed leper be silent as to what had

happened; for He knew what the result would be;

men would crowd to Him all the more eagerly to be cured of bodily ills; His teachings would be scarce heard amid the clamor. So indeed it happened, for news of this further miracle got abroad, and the crush about Jesus became tremendous.

Among others there was brought to Him a man paralyzed, lying on his bed and borne by friends. When these found it quite impossible to force a way to Jesus through the multitude, they climbed to the roof of the house wherein He sat and tearing away the covering they lowered the stricken man by ropes into Jesus' presence.

Seizing this striking instance, in order to teach men that He was not come as a physician for the body, Jesus, instead of curing the man's wasted frame, said to him "Thy sins are forgiven thee." At once some priests listening among the audience murmured that He blasphemed; for only God could forgive sins. Turning to them Jesus asked, whether it was easier to remove the man's sins or his bodily disease. Then He bade the man "Arise, and take up thy couch and go into thine house." And

the thing was done.