"There never was such misery as mine," said poor, sick Barbara as she tossed restlessly on the hospital bed. "I don't think there ever was such pain!"
"Once," was faintly whispered from the next bed.
Barbara paused for a minute, then in a still more impatient voice resumed her complaint: "Nobody knows what I feel. Nobody ever suffered more pain!"
"One," was again whispered from the same direction.
"You mean yourself, poor thing, but—"
"Oh, not myself—not me!" exclaimed Lucie. She spoke so earnestly that her restless companion lay still for several seconds and stared at her.
"Oh, not myself—not me!" she repeated softly. There was a short pause and then the following words, spoken in the same low key, broke the midnight silence: "And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand: and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon Him, and took the reed, and smote Him on the head.... And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha... they gave Him vinegar to drink mingled with gall.... And they crucified Him.... And they that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads.... And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying... My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"
Matt. 27:29-4629And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 30And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 31And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. 32And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. 33And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, 34They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. 35And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. 36And sitting down they watched him there; 37And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. 39And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. 44The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. 45Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:29‑46). The voice ceased, and for several minutes not a word was spoken. The night nurse came in and refilled the pitchers of water by both beds.
"Thank you, nurse," said Lucie. "They gave Him gall for His meat, and in His thirst they gave Him vinegar to drink!"
"She is talking about Jesus Christ," said Barbara, already beginning to toss restlessly from side to side again. "But," she added, "talking about His sufferings can't help ours—at least not mine."
"But it lightens hers," said the nurse. "I wonder how?"
"Hush!"
"Healed! That's a blessed word; I wish I was healed!"
Barbara was healed—healed in both body and soul. What the doctors and nurses with the Lord's help accomplished for the healing of her body in the hospital, her quiet night talks with Lucie did for her soul. Before she was dismissed, well and strong again, Barbara was able to say with truth, "He was bruised for my iniquities: the chastisement of my peace was upon Him; and with His stripes I am healed"!