The women at the cross could have answered Pilate's question. They knew what had inspired their devotion, winged their faith, opened the eyes of their understanding, healed the sick, cast out evil, and caused the disciples to say to their Master: “Even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.”
Where were the seventy whom Jesus sent forth? Were all conspirators save eleven? Had they forgotten the Students' ingratitude great exponent of God? Had they so soon lost sight of his mighty works, his toils, privations, sacrifices, his divine patience, sublime courage, and unrequited affection? O, why did they not gratify his last human yearning with one sign of fidelity?
The meek demonstrator of good, the highest instructor and friend of man, met his earthly fate alone with Heaven's sentinel God. No human eye was there to pity, no arm to save. Forsaken by all whom he had blessed, this faithful sentinel of God at the highest is post of power, charged with the grandest trust of heaven, was ready to be transformed by the renewing of the infinite Spirit. He was to prove that the Christ is not subject to material conditions, but is above the reach of human wrath, and is able, through Truth, Life, and Love, to triumph over sin, sickness, death, and the grave.
The priests and rabbis, before whom he had meekly walked, and those to whom he had given the highest Cruel contumely proofs of divine power, mocked him on the cross, saying derisively, “He saved others; himself he cannot save.” These scoffers, who turned so “aside the right of a man before the face of the Most High,” esteemed Jesus as “stricken, smitten of God.”
