"While they nailed Jesus to His cross, He spake Words such as never other spake before; Upward He spake, praying, and not to them. 'Father,' He prayed, 'forgive them, for, behold, They know not what they do.' So there He hung, The Savior of the world, upon His cross. I saw the soldiers four whose watch it was Sit unconcerned--not knowing what they did!-- And cast lots for the garments of the Lord. 'Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,' Pilate had written in three languages, Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin, on the cross; For so he gave his jeering humor play. The chief priests winced at this, and begged of him, 'King of the Jews, write not, but that he said, King of the Jews am I.' But Pilate spoke Curtly, 'What I have written, I have written.' There then the title stood, a bitterness Mixed in their cup of triumph to the Jews, And a truth deeper far than Pilate guessed. "Mary, the mother of the Lord, stood by; Jesus beheld her, and, close at her side, That one of His disciples whom He loved. A word then from those suffering lips which wrung The mother-heart of Mary with sweet woe To hear it spoken at such time as this. 'Woman,' said Jesus, to His mother speaking, 'Behold, thy son!' He meant John, for to him Likewise He spake, 'Behold, thy mother!' So Thenceforward Mary had with John her home. "There were chance passers-by that railed on Him, Not knowing, those too, what they did! They scoffed, Wagging their heads: 'Ha! Thou that couldst destroy The temple and rebuild it in three days, Save thyself now, and from the cross come down.' After the same sort the chief priests and scribes, Mocking among themselves, made mirth and said: 'Others he saved, let him now save himself! The Christ of God, the King of Israel, Let him come down now from the cross, and we, We, will believe on him.' Two robbers even Crucified with him joined the ribaldry, Tauntingly saying, 'Save thyself and us!' But one of them relented, touched with grace. He praying said, 'Jesus, remember me When Thou art come into Thy kingdom!' Faith Like that, to see and to believe--despite The shame and seeming helplessness--the king In Jesus of a world beyond the world, Won on the Lord; and He--He too with faith, Sheer faith, faith far more wonderful in Him-- Gave answer calmly as became the king, 'This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.'