Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/400

284 cried with a loud voice, saying, My son, my son. And Jesus turning to her and seeing John near her, and weeping with the rest of the women, said, Behold, thy son. Then saith he also to John, Behold, thy mother. And she wept exceedingly, saying, Therefore do I weep for thee, my son, because thou art suffering unjustly; for the lawless Jews have delivered thee to a bitter death. Without thee, my son, what will become of me? How shall I live without thee? What life shall I lead? Where are thy disciples who boasted they would die with thee? Where are those who were healed by thee? How is it that no one was found to help thee? And looking at the cross she said, Bow down O cross, that I may embrace my son, and kiss my son, whom at this breast strangely I nourished as one who knew not man. Bow down O cross, I wish to embrace my son. Bow down O cross, that as a mother I may converse with my son. When the Jews heard these things they came and drove away both her and the women and John to a distance.

Then Jesus cried with a loud voice, Father, reckon not this sin unto them; for they know not what they do. Then saith he, I thirst. And straightway one of the soldiers ran and took a sponge and filled it with gall and vinegar mingled, and putting it upon