The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-05-22
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
MAY 26.
Lesson Text. "Jesus on tho Cross, "
Mark xv., 22-37 - Golden
Text: Romans W,
-Comme entary.

%. "And they bring Him unto the plaes
Golgotha. which is, being interpreted. The
place Of skull" After PLATE scourged Him
and delivered Him to their cruel pleasure
the soldiers crowned Him with thorns, smote
Him and did spit on Him. mockingly bowed
their knees to Him and finally led Him out
to cruelty Him. Think on these things until
you see Him bearing all that for you and
your whole heart cries out, II am Thine,
Oh, Lordr' Then cheerfully, not by COM
pulsion, like Simon the Cyrenian bear the
cross after Him Oversees 16-21). Happy Simon!
Blessed burden! But where was Simon
Peter?
%. "And they gave to drink wine mingled
with myrrh, but He received 1t not" On the
way to Calvary He spoke to the weeping ones
of the coming days of sorrow because OF this
National rejection of Him. To reject Christ
brings unutterable misery. Matthew, Mark
and John call the place OF crucifixion Col
gotha. Luke alone calls it Calvary. In
Rev. XII, 8, it is spoken OF as part OF the
great city where our Lord was cruclied See
in the wine and myrrh Compare Math.
xvii. 34) fulhllment of Ps. Xix, 81. But
He would not accept it.
"a. See in this verse literal fulhlment OF
Ps. xii. 18, for every detail OF His humilla,
tion and sufferings was accurately t1retolo
and fulfilled to the letter. So shall 1t be
also with every detail of the predictions
concerning His coming again. AS Hs would
not be stupefed by the drink offered to Him.
NAV we not shrink from suffering with Him
this little while.
25. .sAnd it was the third hour, and they
crucifed Him." About 9 a. m He endured
the agony of having both hands and feet
pierced with the cruel nails (Ps.. xii, l6).
He was the fulflllment OF all the sacrlhces
that had ever been offered at that morning
hour. Naked that He might be clothed; q
king, yet not a thread OF the trappinS9 Oh
earth's glory; all for us.
26. Over the cross by Pilates orders there
was written in Hebrew and Greek and Latin
(the three languages which represented al!
the world) Jesus of Nazareth, the King OF
the Jews" and PLATE would not alter it..
though the chief priests asked him to (John
xix. 1927. 1t was title which was, and
will vet be manifest to be, OF interest to all
the world. Are you interested now on the
line Of Isa. lxii.. 6, 7? See Z. V.
81. Two evildoers were crucified with Him
and He in the midst (John XIX, 1S). He
could not choose His company any more than
Joseph could in the prison, but He could
glorify God even under such circumstances,
and He did. Even these were such as He
would choose to save, and for Just such he
was then diving. 1t is q faithful saying that
He came into the world to save sinners q Tim
l., 15).
28. Long years before it was written con-
cerning Him, Sand He was numbered with
the transgressors" Qsa. lii. ~: and here was
part OF the fulfllment. In His lifetime, while
going about doing good, He was told that
He had devil and that He was glutton
and a winebibber (John viii, So; Luke VIII,
34).
80. The passersby could not let Him alone.
but rallied on Him and perverted His words
and repeated some Of the very words when
satan used in the temptation, III Ihou De
the Son of God" (NIath. iv., 8; xvii, 40).
It looks as If all the dogs Of hell were let
loose upon Him Cps. xii. l6). yet He meekiy
bore it all and answered not.
80. Save thyself and come down from the
cross" On one occasion Simon Peter told
Hin TO pitv Himself, but He told Simon that
that was satan talking through him and
added that there was no way for Him or tor
His followers but by the cross (Math. xvi,
22-N. margin).
81. she saved others; Himself He cannot
save" Thus said the chief priests, and they
said better than they intended, Tor he could
not save Himself and us, but He chose not to
save himself that He might save us. AS TO
His being unable to save Himself II He wisnen
to. that OF course was q lie, Tor HIS own tes-
timony was as to His life, "No man taketh II It
from Me. but 1 lay 1t down OF Myself
(John &, 1S). See our privilege III 1onn
ill.,. 16.
SO. They mockingly called Him liking OF
Israel" and said that IL He would descend
from the cross they would believe on Him.
Contrast the testimony OF Nathaniel to His
being king Of Israel" and His reception OF
Him (John ,49). Even the thieves revlled
Him, although ono uf them afterward be-
lieyed and was saved. Between people and
priests and soldiers and thieves it was surely
mountains of mockery. and no follower OF
His seemed bold enough to comfort Him with
word OF loyalty to Him.
SO. Even the sun refused 10 shine on such
n scene and for three hours there was great
,larkness. We think OF the darkness Of Gen.
10. and Tx. y. ,21, %, and the outer darkness
of Math. XIV 30; Judge xiii, but tho dark,
ness of our lesson was unique). Never In all
the earth's history was there or will there be-
again Just such day. 1t was the creator OF
ali things suffering for His creatures that He
might redeem them from destruction. =,
81. After six hours on the cross He cried
out in the words of Ps. xii, l, forsaken OF
His Father for our sins, Tor He was made
sin for US UI Cor. v, 2D. See His seven
savings from the cross in Luke xiii, 81, 4S;
John xix.. q; Math. xvii, 49, John Xix, 2S,
80; Luke xiii, 46. Mark gives but this one
for in this gospel Jesus is peculiarly the sui
fering servant. He was forsaken for US that
we might never be forsaken, even as It Is
written, II will never leave thee nor forsake
thee (Heb. Kill. 81.
35. "Behold He calleth Elias So thought
some OF the standersby. They understood
neither Him nor Ills words, and 1t is even so
still He had at one time to say to His dis.
ciples, "How Is 1t that ye do not understand?
MARX viii, 21). And 1t was but few hours
before that He had said to Philip, Have l
been so long time with you, and yet hast
thou not known Me. Philip" (John xiv, 81.
sc. As one ran to give Him drink, prob
ably because OF His cry, Il thirst" (John
XIX, 2S), another hard heart said, Let
alone; LET US see whether Elias will come to
take Him down" They could not under
stand one willing to die If He had power to
save Himself. They were believers OF satan s
doctrine, "All that a man hath will he give
for his life" Dob H.. G.
81. "And Jesus cried with loud voice,
and gave up the ghost" Notice also the
loud voice OF verse 81. He was in His full
strength, but died Of a broken heart, as was
foretold in Ps Xix, 20, and manifest in John
XIX, "a. So 1t was finished, and commend
ing His spirit to God duke xiii, 46) He
died. Compare Acts vii, SO, and believe
that "absent from the body" means "pres-
ont with the Lord" CII Cor. V. 81 if only we
are redeemed by His blood.-Lesson Helper.