The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-05-18
LESSON STORY.
Jesus Crucified,-vs.

i. Jesus Cruclfled,-vS. 22-27.
The soldiers whose duty it was to exc
cute the sentence of Plate at once pro-
ceeeded to administer the terrible scourg
ing. He was stripped of his mock-kingly
robes. The iron-pointed lashes of the
scourge were laid upon his barred back
His clothes were dyed in his own blood.
Then the transverse beams Of the Roman
cross were fastened upon him. Painting
and trembling he was led out of the city
by the Roman guard, followed by a jeer-
ing multitude.
The journey was marked by two Incl
dents. WIAen they led him array, they
laid hold ub0n one Simon of Cyyene, COM
ing from the country, and laid on him the
cross, TO bear ii after Jesus. Simon,
humane man, it may be expressed sympa-
thy for the Victim, already by his suffer
ings weakened to utter exhaustion. The
reward of his pity was his own impress
ment in behalf of the Dying One. The
other incident is that of the women among
the multitude bewailing and lamenting in
their sympathy with the sufferer. Turning
to them, he said, Daughters of Jerusalem,
zOeeb not for me, but aOeep for yourselves,
and TOR yonr children. For 6eA0ld, tie
days are coming, in qOAicA they shall say,
Blessed are the barren, and tie wom6s
that neUey bare, and the breasts that never
gaze suck. Then shall they begin to say
to The mountains, Fail on rs; and to the
hills, Cover as. For If they do these
things in tie green tree, qOFat shall be
dane in the dry? He himself wept on
Olivet over Jerusalem; now he says, Weeb
not for me. He came to minister, not to
be ministered unto.
Arriving at the place Golgotha, knoll
shaped like skull, two hundred yards out
of the city at the northward, ''the Victim"
to use Farrar's graphic phrasing, ewas
stripped of his clothes; he was laid down
upon the implement of torture; his arms
were stretched along the cross-beam, and
a. the centre of the open palms the point
of huge iron nail was placed, which, by
the blow Of mallet, was driven home into
the wood. Then, through either foot sep
arately, or possibly through both together,
as they were placed one over the other,
another huge nail tore its way through the
quivering flesh. To prevent the hands
and feet being torn away by the weight of
the body, which could rest upon MOTH
ing but four great wounds there was,
about the centre of the cross, wooden
projection, strong enough to support at
least in part a human body, which soon
became weight of agony. And then the
accursed tree, with its living human burden
resting upon it in helpless agony, and suf-
fering fresh tortures as every movement
irritated the fresh rents in hands and feet,
was slowly heaved up by strong arms, and
the end of it firmly fixed in a hole dug
deep in the ground for that purpose"
Above the sufferer on the cross was
placed the placard which had been pre-
pared according to the Roman law, declar-
ing the crime with which he was charged.
The superscrIption was +: The king of tie
/szVi To cast contempt on this preten-
sion two robbers were crucified with Jesus,
one on either side
2. Jesus MOcked,-vs. 2o-32.
The customary Supplying drink was of
fered him, and declined. A spear-thrust
under the arm-pt was given by compass
sionate soldier, fastening but not causing
bis death. The soldiers waiting near the
cross divided his garments by lot. Among
his garments, SO divided, was seamless
coat. The people looked on and saw all,
and raised no cry of pity. Some of the
travellers on the thoroughfare to the city
near by, hearing of the charges against
Jesus, and assuming his guilt, Knocked him
in his agonies, and wagged their heads in
imitation of his writings. The priests, be-
holding the success of their revenge, re-
joiced in their seeming victory. He Saved
others, they said, himself he cannot savs.
Bind leaders of the blind To save others