Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-12-04
Christ Cruc,aed.

The lesson for Sunday, December G,
my be found in John 10: 1890.
INTRODUCTORY.
We have reached the central point of
history: all the lights of sacred story and
q profane are focused here. When
J,sus said: at is finished" then true
I'VE was begun. In his prayer to the
father, he said, II have finished the
work which thou gavest me to do" and
Ills was, as it were. the capsheaf. Here
lldeed all work finds its finishing point.
No preacher or teacher has completed his
task until he has led the souls under his
clarge up to an apprehension of this
gfeat transaction on the cross. This
ltsson gives us the opportunity: may God
give us the grace and wisdom to use it
Alright.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS
And he. Tischendorf begins the para
graph with the closing words of the pre-
ceding verse, "They took Jesus, there
FIRE" ision).-Bearing his G, oss.
Greek, for himself. See Variations. The
Word bearing (Bastazo) refers to labo-
nous lifting, bearing burden. Skull.
Greek, Kranion, from which, Uranium,
cur anglici. ed word.
Crucified. form of the word
tross in the cling verse (stauros).
1.-Two others with him. The Greek
order would better be followed here to
insure the right emphasis: With him
two others. See Variations
Title. Literally, an inscribed scroll.
Latin, titulus.-Jesus of Nazareth,
Greek, Jesus the Nazarine. (Bible
Union.)
Read. This word (anagignosco) orig
nally meant to gather exact knowledge.
lence, to con.-To the city. Or, place
Of the city, /. g., nigh at hand. But the
proposition. eggus, near, used here,
takes the genitive, and the King James
translation may properly stand, in pref
erence to the Margin (Var.ations).
Then said, Or, went to saying. I'm
perfect tense. Implying that they kept
it up for awhile, and naturally enough.
he said. The proroun is emphatic,
and might be rendered, This one said
What l have written l have written.
Genuine laconic in three wolds: lilo ge-
grapha geographic.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
And he bearing the cross went forth.
That ross-bearing Christ has gone forth
from before the foundations of the earth.
Back in Isaiah's day, away back in
Moses time, and beyond we descry the
outlines of a cross, DO ne on shoulders
Of meekness. Indeed it has been the
opener of all ways In discovery, in set
t!ement, in commerce even, the cross has
gone before the race, borne by a man.
1t has been the sesame to open doors of
new knowledge, the harbinger of prog
ress, secular as well as religious. The
key that is to unlock the secrets of the
next century is cross shaped.
Jesus in our midst. He made himself
one with us in all our woe, not shrink
ing from participation with the lowlest
was the group of publicans and har OTIS
Surely snlessness will hold itself aloof
from such vile contact. Behold Jesus
in the midst. lie eateth with publicans
and sinners. This is sinlessness that
is incorrupt and incompatible, And al
the last there hang two thieves upon
their crosses. Dismal denouement But
it suits our Lord best to- make his oe
| parture from the life OF flesh, just as he
came, linked with the wretche est
/ "and Jesus in the midst. Now surely
| we may believe it: underneath are the
everlasting arms. :" AS Spurgeon has
/ said: "Sin may drag thee ever so low,
I but hrist's great atonement is still un.
j Ger all.
! The place where Jesus was crucifcd
was nigh to the city.-City missions. 1t
/ was over the city he w"pt, It was for
! the city he died. lie put himself in all
! his life and n his death nearest to men.
/ The cross stands to- day over against the
city-the cross and the rven tomb. nc
the city, where men dwell the one lifts
its a peal and the other its exhortation
Nigh to tho city. where life is at its
keenest: nigh to the city, where deatt
is swiftest: nigh to the city, with its
i gayety and its grief, it's joys and sor-
! rows; nigh to the city, and the city
/ means need. Oh, that the Gro of Chris
| were preached as it should be in eve y
metropolis of the land! The city slew
! him: now let him stay the city-and SC
save it.
What have written have written.
! No. God had written. We speak of in.
spration as strange, dis. ant and ex.
! ceptonal thing. There is more OF il
than, perhaps, we think. ether pens
than those OF prophets and pious mel
have been moved by Gods spirit. Ane
{, yet the hands were free. Prophet anc
have written l have written" and vel
!
hand still upon the pens and e en- upor
the presses of tie world Much thai
has been written seems indited o.
the evil one But it is ultimately self
! destructive Surely the wrath OF mar
shall praise thee; the remainder Of
ath shalt thou restrain"
And from that home that disciple tool
her to his own home. The latch-strine
has been out ever since; the disciple q
love has kept open house tor the neet
and 'heplessness that comes in thu name
of the Lord. 1t is the cross that ha
made Chris ian hospitality. The Chris
,ian household starts forth from thu
Calvary. Yes. and aims houses, hospit
ais, asylums have been spoken into be
ing by that voice on the tree "Beholt
thy mother" said the Christ: and pres
entity we are reading of the portion fo
the widow. And it is the pastor of thu
church at Jerusalem, hard by, that callet
pure religion and indebted that which
gave attendance to the fatherless ant
widows in their at1iiction. Surely tina
was blessed hour: all hours have sine
been happier, brighter.
7 Next Lesson-"Chrst Risen" Joh1
20: lis.
-. .