The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1890-11-20
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
THE LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 90.
The Crucifxion, Luke 90: 33-47-Goiden
Text, Isaiah 90: 1e-Notes and
Commants


place, which is called Calvary. there they
crucided Him. and the malefactors, one on
the right hand and the other on the left.n
Our last lesson left Hin in their hands to do
their pleasure with Him; and after the
scourgIng and mocking we sec the cross
laid brutally on that torn and bleeding
back and He goes forth bearing His csoss
John xix, III While IL Is not said that He
tainted under IL, the fact that they turned
Simon the Cyrenian about, and compelled
him TO bear IL after Jesus Verse 26) looks az
IL He may have sunk beneath IL, or, perhaps,
stumbled through weakness or loss of blood.
Then hear Him as He says TO the women
who follow, "Weep not for Me- but for your
selves and your children" Cverse 2S). And
see the two malef0ctors each bearing his
cross. Thus follow To- Calvary ur Golgotha,
the place Of a skull Matt. xvii. 3Sl. And
now see the three crosses, each bearing its
living, dying, agoni2ing burden; on either
side an evil doer suffering justly, but in tho
midst the Holy Jesus suffering the Just for
the unjust. Gaze intently upon Him suffer-
ing there for you until YOU get u truly
broken and contrito heart because of your
sins.
81. "Then said Jesus Father, forgive
them; for they know not what they do
And they parted His raiment and cast lots"
Can you see Him stripped of His raimcnt,
laid down upon the cross the nails driven
through His guiverng flesh. and then hear
Him pray, Father, forgive Them As YOU
see and hear all this let your heart say. 'Oh,
my soul, SEQ what He suffered for you, and
never cense to thank Him for IL; SEQ His
compassion for His murderers, and in like
manner pray for them that despitefully use
you
35. "And the people stood bcholding. And
the rulers also with them dorided Him, say
Ing, He saved others, let Him save Himself
III He be Christ, the chosen of God" Their
cruelty knows no bounds; they have now
done their worst; they have crucilled Him,
but they cannot cease; and "a He hangs In
greatest physical agony upon the cruel cross
they derido Him. lie could have saved Him.
self II He had wished. Not all the power Of
men or devils could have harmed Him unless
He had permitted IL.
20. And the soldiers also Knocked Him,
coming to Him and Offering Him vinegar
The sufferings and death of Christ reveal the
hearts OF men-the true children of God, who
In trial forsake Him; the professor only,
who, being tempted sells Him; those high
est In religious things, who, being only hypo-
critics, hate reality; those highest in tom
poral power, who know nothing OF eternal
realities and care only TO please people, this
| irreligious las these soldiers), who care for
none OF these things and the oifscouring OF
the earth suffering Just punishment for their
crimcs-nll have their hearts revealed by the
cross of Christ.
81. "And saying, II Thou be the King of
the Jews save 1hyself" They could not
seeinet To have no power They knew moth
Ing Of the powers unseen by mortal eyes;
horses and chariots OF fire were things thew
had never seen nor known about: lcgions Of
Roman soldiers they had seen, but legions Of
angels never.
-. "And n superscrption also was written
over Him. In letters of Greek and Latin and
Hebrew, This is the King Of the Jews The
chief priests objected TO this, and wished
Plate 10 write, HE said. am King OF the
jews John xix, III; but filatc insisted ON
keeping IL us he had written ii. Thus to Jews
and Gentiles In all the languages of the Ro-
man empire was proclaimed the fact that
this crucified Ono was u king and by the
three languages we are reminded that He
woS King not only OF the Jews, but Of all ma
ions Csach. tx. 8; Ps ixxxvi., %.
80. Aud noof the malefactors which wers
hanged rallied ON Him. saving; IL Thou be
Christ save Thyielf and us" Rulers soldiers
and malefactors all utter the same taunt,
"Save thyself." When Satan spoke through
Peter it was to the same effect Pity thy
self" Matt. xvi, -, margin; and In this OFT
repeated cry we recognize the same adver-
sary in each Cor. iv., ~.
40. But the other answering, rebukcd
him. saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing
thou art i'll the same condemnation"
Hardened indeed, must have been the heart
of this condemned man, who, knowing that
he must very soon meet God in the spirit
world, rallied even to the last; but people are
still known 10 go to their execution cur,ing
God 10 the last, 40 hardened may the heart OF
sinful man become.
Al. "And we indeed justly; for we receive
the due reward OF our deeds, hut this man
hath done nothing nmiss.' Another testi-
mony Ia the innocence of "rhis Man" Wa
have heard IL from Judas, from Plate from
Pilates wife. indirectly from Hcrol and now
from the thief ON the cross. How he came
to this knowledge We are not told. but We re-
joce in his added testimony.
AZ. "And he said unto Jesus, Lord rcmem-
ber me when Thou cOmest into Thy kingdom
This is grand. Not only does he confess him
self justly punished wicked man. but he
confesses that the man az his side h. an inuo-
cent man suffering uuiustly; that notwith.
standing all that has been done TO Him AMI
said 10 Him He is reallya king and has
kingdom; and he humbly asks TO bc rcmem-
bered In that kingdom.
43. And Jesus said unto him, Verify |
say unto thee to-day shalt thou be with Nc
in Paradise" What "A trophy for Christ to
display among tho redeemed! What a re-
demption for this mnlefactor To obtain Ho
saves others; yes, even to the uttermost, but
He saves not Himself.
~. "And 10 was about the sixth hour, and
there was darkness over all the earth until
the ninth hour" He was cruciiicd at the
third hour MARK XIV. 2jl, which would be
about o'clock. At the sixth hour or 10
o'clock this darkness set in. which continued
till He died at 3oclock. The sun refused 10
shine longer upon such a scene; earth put on
mourning. ..-.. .,...,..,,,. o,,l ,h.
veil of the temple was rent IN the midst
The veil was IA symbol of His boiy or flesh.
AS in tabernacle and temple. the veil con
ceaed the glory of God; 20 during all His
stay on earth the mortal body of Christ con-
ceaed within IL the glory Of God.
as "And when Jesus had cried with
loud voice. He said, Father, into Thy hands
| i commend My spirit; and having said thus
He gave up the ghostn This is the last of
His seven sayings on the cross For tho
| others In the order of utterance see verses
| "a, 43: John xix, %, 81; Matt. xvii, 80;
| John xix, ~. 30. They tell of for
giveness, Paradise, provision for our need
while here and the infinite cost at which all
! has been purchased. The last confirms the
fact of life apart from the body or conscious
| existence after death.
AZ. "Now when the centurion saw what
| was done he glortied God, saying, Certainly
| this was righteous man. Yet another
testimony 10 the innocence of the Lord Jesus
Christ in addition 10 those mentioned in
verse Al. We hope the centurion truly be-
lived on Him, but we are not told.-Lesson
Helper
| DEER As rood.
In a recent Parliamentary debate a mem.
| Der of Her Majesty's Government said some