Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-06-02
THE CRUCIFIXIO
LuKE u AI-Ib

Central Truth The sinless Jesus died
on the cross thst guilty sinners might
be pardoned and live.
Just one week intervened between
the time OF our last lesson and the great
event we are specially to contemplate
in this; a week crowded with scenes
and lessons of intense and momentous
interest.
Leaving Jericho, our SAVIOUR reach.
ed Bethany, Friday, toward evening.
There, in the house of Lazarus and
Martha and Mary, he spent the next
day, which was the Jewish Sabbath.
Being now ready openly to announce
himself as the Messiah, the day after,
amidst the shouts and hosannas of the
people, he made his triumphal entry
into Jerusalem. The same evening he
returned to Bethany. Monday he was
again at Jerusalem, cleansing the Tenn.
pie and healing the sick, the blind and
the lame. The children renewed the
cries OF the previous day, and made the
Temple resound with "Hosanna to the
Son of David" After another night in
Bethany, Tuesday found him at the
Temple once more, and for the last
time. This was also his last day of
public teaching. He predicted the ap.
preaching destruction of Jerusalem,
and his own second coming and, be.
side Others, he spoke the parallels of
the Ten Virgins, the Talents, and the
Last Judgment.
His public ministry was now ended;
and Wednesday was spent in retirement
and rest in the quiet home at Bethany.
Thursday he set out for the cross. To.
ward evening, in little upper chamber
in Jerusalem, he washed the disciples
feet, and taught them the greatness of
humility; and, being now about to offer
himself as the one all sufficient sacrifice
for sins, he ate with them the Passover,
and instituted the Memorial Supper
then, having poured forth his soul in
the tender words of farewell discourse
and prayer, he joined the disciples in
the great Hallelujah Song, and made
his way TO Gethsemane. Here, in the
darkness Of the night, transpired the
dreadful agony and the cruel betrayal
Though he might have called legions
of angels to his aid, he made no resist
ance. Did he not come to the very end
that he might give his life ransom?
He is taken first 10 the house of An.
mas, the oldest, though not the acting,
high priest. Thence, with insults and
mockery, he is hurried to the palace OF
Caiaphas, where. having been question.
ed, accused, smltten and reviled, he is
condemned to death by the Council, and
denied by his own foremost disciple,
Peter. The sentence Of death must
needs be ratified by the civil authority.
Accordingly the next step is 10 bring
him to the official residence of Plate.
BY him he IS questioned and sent to
Herod, and to him he il again returned.
"UnrigIteous, cruel and arbitrary" a.
Plate was, he testified to his innocence:
aud only after delays aud protestAtions
and expostulations, did he yield to the
furious demands of the priests and ruI.
ers and people, and deliver him to be
crucified. This punishment was Of all
that could be devised the most dreaded
and shameful, reserved even by heath.
enism for the worst Of criminals.
Just where the cross was set up we do
not know. II was not far outside the
city walls. The two thieves crucified
with him may have been ordered to the
cross to spite the Jews; and the inscrip-
tion placed above the Saviour's head.
"This is the King Of the Jews" may
have had the same motive.
Some of the disciples drew near to the
cross, among them the Marys, John and
the Mother of the Lord. The soldiers
carelessly parted and gambled for his
garments; the people stood beholding
the rulers derided. Yet, in the midst of
al, and in mortal agonies, the majestic
sufferer, burdened with the sorrows and
sins of q world, uttered no accusation.
no reproach, no complaint. lie had
saved others. lie might have saved
himself How we'll il i for us that he
would not and did not 1t was for us
that he endured the esoss, despisine
the shame.
Pitiful and loving to the end, for the
soldiers whose hands had driven the
nails he prayed: Father, forgive them,
for they know not what they do" TO
the penitert thief he spoke words of
great promise. Other words of tender.
ness and power are recorded in the
other Gospels. What mingled pitv and
agony flied his soul we know not.
supernatural darkness nov enshrouded
the earth in sympathetic gloom. Doubt.
less, by direct divine interposition, the
veil OF the temple was rent in twain.
signifying that, through the blood of
Atonement, access to God was no longer
imperfect but free. The purpose of his
suiferings was now accomplished. and.
with loud cry and commending his
spirit to the Father, as a selfsacrifice
completed, the lncarnate Son bowed
his head in death.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
/. That any man who looked upon
the Saviour crucifed could deride his
agoDies, seems too horrible for belief.
We do we'll therefore to guard lest we
contemplate the same scene with idle
indifference or heartless curiosity. No
thoughts are so fitted to humble, melt,
subdue, quicken and sanctify as those
which cluster about the cross. And
yet The heart needs TO be opened to
them BY deliberation, effort and prayer.
2. 1t il especially important that the