The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-05-18
TEACHING POINTS.

INTRODUCTION the preceding scenes
of the Life of Jesus in glance beholdng Geth-
semane and the betrayal and arrest the trial before
the high priest and Sanhedrim; the charge of bias
phemy the denial of Peter the mockery of the SOL
ders; the condemnation by the council; Jesus led
by cord around his neck to Plate and charged
with sediton; the perplexed Plate sending him to
Herod; Herod. stung and frightened by Jesus
silence, sending him back to Piate PLATE endeav-
oring to release Jesus, but Barabbas preferred by
the priests and the rabbe; Plate scourging Jesus
to appease the priests but only to increase their
moral insanity; the threat to report him to Cesar
working through his moral cowardice causing the
Roman governor to deliver the Innocent One for
crucihxion
% v. z2-27. Golgotha, Calvary, while literally
but knoll and its exact identity still in dispute, is
in its moral significance majestic mountain. On
its crown was exhibited at once the darkest human
guilt and peerless spiritual heroism.-Jesus by
barely tasting of the supplying draft profered by
the friendly women OF Jerusalem, acknowledged the
kindly act; but he preferred to enter the darkness
of death with no artificial darkening of his own
spirit-The soldiers gambling under the cross for
the clothes of Jesus is frightful exemplication of
heartess greed and hardened crueity.-The super
scription declaring Jesus to be THE KING OF THE
Jews, is to-day striking spiritual fact. Jesus still
rejected by the Jews, is the King of their race the
Jews are strangely blind in rejecting the One who
honors them most-The cruciixion of Jesus be-
tween two thieves, if not in sense accidental, was
deliberately intended to cast contempt on Jesus as
the companion Of robbers. 1t enabled him however
to demonstrate his friendship for even outcasts and
criminals.
o. Y. 2o-3z Do we wonder at the spirit of the
passers-by who Knocked Jesus and initiated his bodily
writhngsl But how is this different spirit from
that which to-day constantly profanes the name of
Jesus in speech l-The perverted saying of Jesus
in regard to destroying and building the temple,
brought against him, is an instance of the half
truth that is no better than the complete le.-The
priests are in gee because they have conquered their
enemy. But nothing is settled in this world until
1t is settled right.-The testimony of the chief
priests tie savea others, himseLfhs cannot sane, is
an unwilling confession OF the central meaning of
Christ's Gospel. Because he could not save him.
self, he could save Others and will save the world.
49, V. 1897. The Darkness which yelled the
earth from the sixth to the ninth hour,-from three
O'Clock till nine,-was some phenomenon of nature
now unexplainable. An eclipse possibly. 1t had
strange impressiveness because it correspondent to
the moral darkness in the hearts of the triumphant
enemies of Jesus.-Jesus himself felt some mo-
ments of spiritual darkness, like the unknown He
brew psalmist whose words became his prayer; yet
there is heioism of faith under such circumstances
in his crying to the Silence saying, MY God, my
GOa.--The Roman soldier who prohered the draft
Of vinegar or sour wine to the thirsting Jesus,
may well receive our thanks for his human pity.
We see this one blade of grass among the rocks
Jesus final loud voice was confident and victorious
prayer
-Christ and his Gospel are now in apparent de-
feat But Christ whose ministry here ends is not
Christ on which faith can feed