he passed
immediately into a state of blessedness. This was the promise: "To-day
shalt thou be with me in Paradise."

Again it may be remarked that salvation is not universal. There were two
robbers; only one was saved. Jesus had heard them both speaking of him. He
did not say "ye," but "Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with
me in Paradise."

Last of all, it may be noted that the very essence of the joy which lies
beyond death consists in personal communion with Christ. The heart of the
promise to the dying thief was this: "Thou shalt be with me." This is our
blessed assurance, that to depart is "to be with Christ," which is "very
far better."

J. The Death And Burial. Ch. 23:44-56

44 And it was now about the sixth hour, and a darkness came over
the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 the sun's light failing:
and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 46 And Jesus,
crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commend
my spirit: and having said this, he gave up the ghost. 47 And when
the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying,
Certainly this was a righteous man. 48 And all the multitudes that
came together to this sight, when they beheld the things that were
done, returned smiting their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintance,
and the women that followed with him from Galilee, stood afar off,
seeing these things.

50 And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a councillor, a good
and righteous man 51 (he had not consented to their counsel and
deed), _a man_ of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was looking
for the kingdom of God: 52 this man went to Pilate, and asked for
the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in a
linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was hewn in stone, where
never man had yet lain. 54 And it was the day of the Preparation,
and the sabbath drew on. 55 And the women who had come with him
out of Galilee, followed after, and beheld the tomb, and how his
body was laid. 56 And they returned and prepared spices and
ointments.

And on the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

The death of Christ was an event of such supreme importance that it
properly was accompanied by supernatural signs of deep significance. Of
these Luke mentions two. The first was the darkened skies, a fit symbol of
the blackest crime in all the histo