Jesus In India — Page 39
CHAPTER ONE 29 it was unlawful and a cognizable offence to let anyone remain on the cross on the Sabbath, or the night before. Jews, like Muslims, followed the lunar calendar, according to which the day began with the sunset. Thus, on the one hand was this welcome circum- stance which was born of earthly causes, and, on the other, heav- enly causes developed due to God Almighty. When the sixth hour had struck, such a severe dust storm began to blow that it envel- oped the world in darkness and persisted for at least three hours. See Mark 16:33. ¹ The sixth hour was after twelve o'clock and was close to evening. Now, the Jews got worried at the deep darkness and feared lest the night of the Sabbath should overtake them and lest, having violated the sanctity of the Sabbath, they should be deservedly punished. Therefore, they hurriedly removed Jesus, the Messiah, and the two thieves also from their crosses. In addition to this, there was another heavenly intervention. When Pilate pre- sided at his court, his wife sent word to him saying that he should have nothing to do with that just man (that is to say, he should not seek to have him killed): for she had suffered many things that night in a dream because of him. See Matthew 27:19. 2 So, this angel, who was shown to the wife of Pilate in her dream; from this we, and all fair-minded people, would certainly understand, that God Almighty had never intended for Jesus, the Messiah, to die on the cross. From the very beginning when the world came into 1. This seem to be a scribe's error; the correct reference is Mark 15:33. [Publisher] 2. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him (Matthew 27:19). [Publisher]