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Voice Of Prophecy

H.M.S. Richards

Seven New Things

Among the faces about the cross we see those who love Jesus.

It has been said, Fidelity, thy name is woman.

And so it might have been said of those 4 women who were not far from the cross.

Aided by the disciple John, she makes her way through the jeering crowd right to the foot of the cross.

Now she knows the meaning of those strange words spoken by Simeon when she took the Christ child to the temple so long ago.

Yea, a sword shall pierce through thine own soul also.

But the day is dark, and the air is chill, and the cross is raised on this lone hill.

There is never a 1 to take my part, for the sin and the sorrow break my heart.

They have lifted me up against the morn, and the crown they gave has many a thorn.

They pierced my hands, and they pierced my feet, gave hatred for love, and gall for sweet.

Behold, O woman, this son of thine, mother of mine, O mother of mine." And so the sword of sorrow pierced, but Christ's mother was there by her son in his dying hour.

Salome, mother of James and John, was at the cross too, and looked on with heartbroken sympathy.

Like Salome, Mary, the wife of Clopas, was the mother of 2 of Christ's disciples, James Alas and Joseph.

Inspired by the faith of her son, she mourned his death on the cross.

The third Mary at the cross was the woman who loved much because she had been forgiven much.

Besides these 4, there were other women present.

The disciple John was there close to the cross, as well as other followers of Jesus called his acquaintances.

Was Joseph of Arimathea among them, and Nicodemus most likely?

All these faces about the cross were faces of love.

These watchers did not understand the terrible scene, but they loved Jesus.

Their hope was almost gone, but they loved Him.

Next we come to the blind watchers there.

Among the faces about the cross we notice those who were spiritually blind, utterly ignorant they were as they watched the supreme event of the ages.

To them it was just another execution, some took part in it.

The 4 soldiers, no doubt heathen from a foreign land, simply obeyed orders when they drove the nails.

Then, tired from their exertions, they sat down and watched him there.

The men who caused the most physical agony to our Lord were the least responsible, because their knowledge was so small.

Father, forgive them, he prayed, for they know not what they do.

Men are responsible for the light they have.

In James 4, 17 it is written, Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

In those uncomprehending faces about the cross we see the millions who have neither love nor faith nor hope.

Today is then the light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not.

But 1 heart was there at the cross, open to the light of heaven, and 1 the least expected.

Into 1 face came the light that never was on seer land.

The poor thief said, Lord, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom.

And there and then had the promise of a place with Christ in Paradise.

The centurion, who was busy with his official duties, was there.

But when the darkness came down, and the rocks rant, and the Saviour cried out with a scripture on his lips, he saw the light too, and said, Truly this was the Son of God.

The scripture calls them, they that pass by.

They took a look, but they didn't stay long.

They went on about the little things of life, into the city to buy and sell, into the country to work or visit.

Like Moses when he saw the bush on fire, they seemed to say, I'll now turn aside and see this great sight.

Simon of Cyrene was just passing by when he was drafted, that's the word in the original, drafted, against his own desire to carry the cross.

And what at first was a burden became a blessing.

Are you ready, O friend, just passing by now?

Stop a moment and look at your savior crucified for you.

1 day early in the 18th century, the artist Stenberg walked through the marketplace and was attracted by the face of a dancing gypsy girl.

He invited her to his studio where he used her as a model for his painting, The Dancing Gypsy Girl.

The little girl was much impressed with what she saw there, and watched with interest as the great artist worked on his painting of the crucifixion.

1 day she said to Stenberg, he must have been a very bad man to have been nailed to a cross.

No, the artist said, he was a good man, the best man that ever lived.

Did he die for you, asked the girl in simplicity?

This pointed question pierced the artist's heart, for he had not surrendered to Christ.

Soon after this, he chanced to attend a meeting of the Reformers and was converted.

Then he went back to work on his painting of the Crucifixion, not only with the skill of an artist, but with the love of a believer in Christ.

When the masterpiece was completed, it was hung in the great art gallery at Dusseldorf.

1 day a young German count wandering through the gallery paused before Stenberg's crucifixion.

He looked and looked again, and what he saw moved him greatly.

Did he notice the words written under the painting, All this I did for thee, what hast thou done for me?

A great change came over the young nobleman, and Count Nicholas Zinzendorf, for such it was, went forth to found that noble missionary brotherhood of the Moravians who have carried the gospel to many lands, and so we say to you, what hast thou done for me?

I suffered much for thee, more than thy tongue can tell, of bitterest agony.

To rescue I've borne, I've borne it all for thee.

Last of all, we come to the mob watchers.

Those other faces about the cross, angry, distorted faces.

People who follow a multitude to do evil, as we read in Exodus 23 to, to do evil or to do good, the mob minded people.

They're swayed by the spirit of the times, or of the hour, or of the moment.

About a week before, the crowd had shouted, Hosanna in the highest, as Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem.

But now, they cry, crucify him, and they mock him upon the cross.

No doubt many of the same people who were in that crowd singing hosannas were now in their mob, crying crucify him.

How often has it been sadly true that a crowd swayed by strong leaders will do what they would never do as individuals.

As you pray in these latter days, think of those faces about the cross.

In those faces of hate, of love, of blind indifference, of careless curiosity, and of popular emotion, we behold the attitude of every 1 in this old world as we all gather about the cross of Christ.

Jesus said, and I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw men unto me.

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Seven New Things

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