On the night of his betrayal in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus placed himself completely in God's care; and he was, therefore, prepared to meet the ordeal of the experience on the cross that mankind might profit from his example.
Those who passed Jesus by when he was crucified, including the chief priests, scribes, and elders, mocked and reviled him. They said (Matt. 27: 42), "He saved others; himself he cannot save." And they also said, "He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God."
At that very moment Jesus was engaged in the activity of saving himself. He was proving his divine sonship, thereby becoming the Way-shower for all men and blessing even those who were persecuting him, for he asked God to forgive them their ignorance. Referring to the experience of the crucifixion, Mary Baker Eddy tells us (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 124): "The last act of the tragedy on Calvary rent the veil of matter, and unveiled Love's great legacy to mortals: Love forgiving its enemies. This grand act crowned and still crowns Christianity: it manumits mortals; it translates love; it gives to suffering, inspiration; to patience, experience; to experience, hope; to hope, faith; to faith, understanding; and to understanding, Love triumphant!"
