"Listen to that," said Caiaphas scornfully, "he speaks as if he had power over the gates of Paradise." "What," said the rabbi. "Have not his pride and presumption deserted him even as he hangs helpless on the cross?" And they were wroth with Jesus. During all this time Mary, the mother of Jesus, and John had been slowly approaching the cross, and now they stood immediately below Jesus, Mary on the right, John on the left. Then Jesus beholding them, said to Mary, "Mother, behold thy son." And slowly and with difficulty turning his head to see John, Jesus added, "Son, behold thy mother." Then Mary cried in ecstacy of love and adoration, "Even in dying thou carest still for thy mother." And John tenderly supporting Mary, but looking above to Jesus, exclaimed, "Thy last request is sacred to me." And then to Mary he said, "Thou my mother, I thy son." Then Jesus in a hollow voice, cried hoarsely, "I thirst." The centurion hearing him said, "He thirsts and calls for drink." "Then," said Faustus, "I will reach him some at once." Then taking the reed with the sponge, he filled it with vinegar and passed it to the centurion, who, taking a small phial from his dress, poured hyssop on the sponge. Faustus then reached the sponge up to the lips of Jesus. But Jesus turned away his head and would not drink. "Here, drink," said Faustus. "What, wilt thou not?" and seeing that Jesus would not touch the sponge he took it away. Then Jesus cried in agony, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani!" But those hearing him did not understand, but imagined he cried for Elias. "Hark!" said they. "He cried for Elias." Then Caiaphas laughed and said, "Let be; let us see whether Elias will come to save him." Then Jesus raising his head with a great effort to heaven, and breathing heavily cried with a loud voice and said, "It is finished. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit!" And as Jesus spoke these words his head fell forward on his breast and he gave up the ghost. Then suddenly the earth rocked and shook violently--thunder pealed--fierce lightnings flashed--darkness fell like a pall over the scene--the people stood trembling with fear. [Illustration: "It is finished."] The priests and the people cried out in terror, saying: "What a dreadful earthquake! Do you hear the crash of falling rocks? Woe, woe be to us!" But the centurion said, "Certainly, this was a righteous man." Another soldier replied, "God himself bears witness by these convulsions of nature." The centurion said, "Oh, his patience in the worst agony, his noble calm, this last loud cry to heaven at the moment before death, all betoken his divine origin. Verily, he is a Son of God!" "Come neighbors," said Oziel, "I will remain no longer in this terrible place." "Yes," cried Helen, "let us go home and may God have mercy on us." And others smiting their breasts cried, "Almighty God, we have sinned! Forgive us."