Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-06-02
ON TIE CROSS.
LESSON x, SECOND QUARTER, INTER
NATIONAL SERIES, JUNE 8.

Text Of the Lesson. Matt. xvii. $3.50.
Golden r,>xt. Phil. ii. s--sEemorizs
Verses S5-3s-Comment by I:ev. II. S.
HOFFMAN,.
condensed from Lesson Helper Quarterly. by
permission Of II. S Hoffman. Philadelphia,
publisher.l
Notes.-v. sS. Golgotha, usual place of
execution. The Latin word calvary, its
equivalent, also means skull, from its conical
shape. v. 81. Vinegar, bitter, stupefying
drink to deaden the feeling of pain. v. 3S.
| Thieves, robbers. V. 3d. Wagging their
heads, in token of derision and Insult, Job
xvi, 4; Ps elk, %. V. Is. Darkness, not an
eclipse, but a preternatural gloom that indi-
Gated the awfully wicked deed done " 40.
Eli, or "Eloi" Ps xii, 1; Isa. lii, 10;
xiii, 3-5 V. 60 Cried again, lit is
Finished John xix, so Loud voice, shout
Of victory, Luke xiii, &C.
V. SO. The Via Dolorosa or Via Crucis, or
the Lords road from the Pretorium to Col
gotha, which required on this occasion a half
an hour to pass, was marked at every step by
the blood which oozed from the freshly
scourged body of Jesus. The natural pain
from the scourging was augmented by tho
heavy cross which he, like all the con-
demned had to bear. Exhausted by long
watching, by troubled night such as no
man ever since or before passed through and
now by the most intense bodily suffering. he
at last tainted and sunk under tho burden Of
his cross, so that Simon, the Cyrean, was
seized to help him carry it.
Golgotha, or Calvary, an elevated place
somewhat resembling in shape human
skull, was then without the city limits, for
the walls. This was also Roman law. Ho
was cast out of the city of God, that we
might obtain entrance into the heavenly
Jerusalem. Golgotha, once the most dread
ful and horrible place on the earth, had be-
7ome through Christ tho mountain of bless
ings. Christ can transform the vilest sinner
into shining saint
V. 34 There was offered our Lord the
usual potion given to such as were crucified
to stupefy the senses, but he was unwilling
to dull them to pain or to dim his commuil-
ion with God. lie came to taste our death,
and he wished no intoxicant to blunt that
TASTE
v. 35. The criminal having arrived at the
place of execution, was required to be stripped
of oil his clothes, and then was laid upon the
cross with his arms stretched out upon its
cross beams Then by several strong and
well directed blows of mallet or hammer
huge nails were driven through the hands
and feet, fastening the body to the instru-
ment of torture. Then the cross was lifted
and let fall violently into the hole that had
been previously dug in the earth. 1t was so
cruel and shameful q mode Of punishment as
never to have been meted out to Roman citi-
zens, but reserved only for slaves, rebels and
the most abandoned and worthless characters.
1t was at the same time the most painful
form of death. a. The position of the arms
and body was most unnatural. The least
motion caused the most intense smart. c,)
The nails were driven through clusters OF the
most sensitive nerves and tendons of the
hands and feet, causing the most exquisite
anguish. (3) Tho exposure of so many
wounds to the air and the heat of midday
brought on violent inflammation. "a The
free circulation Of the blood was prevented
More blood was carried out by the arteries
than could be returned by the veins. This
caused determination of blood to the brain,
producing inexpressible agony. t5) Death
was not immediate. The pain increased and
some had been known to languish thus till
the seventh day. Our Saviour's sufferings
soon terminated, because of the intense suf-
fering of mind and body which preceded his
crucifixion. Only the inquisition, with its
LCAbAcn AAfCntiOAAcs LIS DSCH 1Olc 10 btudl
this torturing death. Such was the death
Jesus died, to make Gtonement for our sins.
An that he suffered was for us. What a
price was paid for U.s. If he died for us.
what ought we not be willing to do for himl
V. Sc. The soldiers now watched him that
none should remove the body. Sometimes
this watch lasted several days.
V. 81. 1t was customary to attach TO tho
cross the crime and name Of the criiciiicd
person. Plate wrote or caused to have writ
ten the crime for which Jesus was executed.
Schaff
" 50. To add an additional shame 60
Christ's crucifxion he was associated and ex-
ecuted with malefactors
" 80, 40 "His crucifed condition was in
such contrast with the title over him and
with his own words, as to excite the mirth of
the crowd" Peloubet. They perverted
words which Jesus used. But it is remarkable
that what was then taking place resulted in
the destruction Of the temple. They derided
his claims and jested at his agonies He
could not come down from the cross because
he was the Messiah Had he come down be
would not have been the anointed Christ
Hc who seeks first TO save himself Is never
able to save others.
v. Al, a. The offensc for which Jesus was
that he was tho Messiah, that hc was the Son
of God. All this he was, and by numerous
miracles proved that he was more than
mere man. Tho mass of the people were
eager TO hail him as the long expected Mes
siah. But because his kingdom was not
temporal, but spiritual, they rejected him.
Unwittingly the chief priests, scribes and
elders, who reviled and Knocked, borc testi
.mCmy to his having ~ ''saved Others" G |
trusted God. ? and 90 said 81 am the Son of |
Cod
v. ~ Up to this time both Of. tho. thieves |
upbraided Christ, hut wondrous and |
blessed change was now wrought In one.
Gods Spiritca turn hlaspherny into prayer !
and scoffers into saints
". z5. The darkness was preternatural, |
and was not caused by an eclipse Of the sun,
for the moon was full, making an eclipse inn
possible.