Did Jesus Redeem Mankind? — Page 169
169 inflicted and flesh is lopped off but as the sword falls suddenly, it does not strike terror. But the nail has its terror, leaving one wondering as to what would happen next. Even if the flesh is cut off by a sword, one does not feel so much pain as is caused by a needle-prick. For, one comes to realize it when the flesh has been lopped off. In fact, on many occasions if one finds the bone has been saved, instead of getting alarmed, one feels grateful to God. But as the doctor makes ready the syringe for injection, one feels as if the surgeon were going to slaughter him and becomes terror-stricken. No doubt what happened to the Messiah was a shockingly grievous thing mentally; but he did not suffer the real pain which results in human death. Since, however, he was of a delicate disposition, he could not bear even that much and fell into a swoon. As against this the thieves hung on his right and left cracked jokes with each other. In fact one of them cast in his teeth, "if thou be Christ, save thyself and us. " But the other answering rebuked him, saying, 'Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man hath done nothing amiss' (St. Luke, ch. 23:39,40). Now they were hanging on the. Cross, and cutting such jokes, for, they were hard-hearted and cared little what they were suffering. Such is generally the temperament of those who have in them the capacity to bear hardship. . In Kashmir we have an Ahmadi family who were the rulers of Muzaffarabad in the past. The Maharaja of Kashmir defeated them and taking the Raja a prisoner brought him to. Srinagar and sanctioned an allowance for the family's maintenance. This happened during the time of Maharaja