Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-06-11
Lesson for Junc "A.


Lesson for June IA.
Golden Text.-"Christ died for our sins
according to the Scriptures" ~ Cor.
IL: g.
This lesson il found In Luke %: 33-46,
and has for its subject Jesus Crucifed.
We come with this lesson to the central
point of redemption and indeed Of all the
history of man. There Is new evange-
ism abroad that puts Mt the forefront the
Sermon on the Mount and makes the idea
OF an organized or social kingdom on
earth the paramount idea in revival work.
But have a care. The Horns of Hattin
tower high, but Calvary overtops them
all. We shall never find a better, or. in
deed another beginning place; and we
know Of no way to bring in the kingdom
save as sinners bow humbly Mt the foot
of the cross and there, one by one, con-
fess their sins and find salvation through
the blood of Jesus. Let the cross stand
where it belongs. Let the altar of peni-
tence hold its rigEtful place. "Seek ye,
first, the kingdom of God and his right
eOusness "a righteousness not OF the law)
and all these things shall be added"
Lesson Hints.
w nth tnty WcIt COilc u tuc DllCe.
At last, the place! Christ had been draw
ing nigh to it from all eternity.
Called Calvary" place Of a skull.
Whatever they called it before, it takes a
new name now. Place of redemption,
place Of atonement for the sins of the
world. Name it yourself; what do you
call it?
There were two crosses alongside of the
cross of atonement. Suffering being an
incident Of all life, mankind is suspended
on one cross, or the other, one Of blatant
self-esteem, the other of penitent self
abandon. Suffering does not save, 1t Is
the cross in the midst that saves. ~
Father forgive them; forsthey know
not what they do" or whatIthey are do
ing. Then how cruelty ring in the cold,
hard words, "And they parted, his raj.
ment and cast lots" On the fcross.--all
pity; at the foot of the crossa-merciless
greed. sa' 4 gl.stl -esi.
The people stood beholding," as il IL
were but spectacle on a Roman holiday.
Angels above were also beholding, bur
with what different emotions? And God
beheld. Tremble, man.
IF he be Christ, the chosen Of God"
Had they understood the voice that spoke
over Christs head little while before,
they would have found no place for this
IF" For right where Christ spoke of
yielding himself in sacrifice for others,
saying, Father, glorify thy name" Gods
approval Numbered from the heavens
John II: 2S). IF thou be king" said
the soldiers, "save myself" 1t was their
estimation Of kingship and Of power.
Ability to take care Of oneself. But Christ
was here taking care of world. This
was his higher kihgship.
"LQrd, gemember me when thou contest
into thy kingdom" more accurately in thy
kingdom Christ is king even now, but
some time hei coming in the midst of his
visible kingship. The dying thief recog-
,nized Christ's Present Lofdship, and cray.
ed part with him in the day of award. !
This :, - day With me IN paradise" Two
things are clearly indicated. III That
Christ was to be that day in paradise:
compare, HE descended into hell" (2)
That the thief was to be with him there:
the conscious joy Of the faithful after
death. and Immediately "the veil Of the
temple was rent" And Rome has not
been able, with all his human mending, to
close the rent. The way is open.
A glimpse Of Cavalry. Thank God for
1t. Some belated soul may yet look and
live. Spurgeon used to picture the black
night settling down on Israel's camp,
but, in the darkness Of the midnight hour.
fash of lightning revealing the serpent
on the pole to some smitten pilgrim, who
even then had but to look to live. May
some one see Jesus crucifed to-day, as a
personal Saviour.
'The light of the world is Jesus" we
sing and the cross is the white light at the
center of the radiance. Teachers, guard
the doctrine of blood atonement well.
There are those who would obscure this
light. There are winds Of doctrine blow
ing that make 10 puff it out. When the
sailors on the lifeboat had but one match
with which to light the lantern that
guarded their way in the night and show
ed their whereabouts, they gathered very
carefully about it, protecting it with their
hats and garments. Teachers in the class
to-day beware of Satan's adverse winds.
Tell the story Of the cross. There is
saving power in it. Its record is wonder
full. Charles Wesley was robbed Of his
purse. He said to the highwayman, with
the emphasis Of their solitude, ''The blood
Of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all SIM"
Years after, the preacher was met at the
door Of a church by man who said to
him that the verse there spoken was the
means of his conversion. Let the suffer-
ings of the divine Son be sufficient COM
mentary in the promise, my grace is suf-
fcient for thee"
As Louis XII. of France assembled the
throne he caused to be drawn up q list
of those who had been his enemies and
opposed him. Opposite each name he
marked large black cross. The enemies
of the king thinking this meant vengeance
and death, fed. But the king recalled
them and assured them that the sign Of
the cross had been put beside each name
only to remind him Of the cross of Christ,
whose example of forgiveness it was his
desire to follow.
"Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure
By the cross are sanctifed;
Peace is there that knows no measure,
joys that through all time abide"
Next Lesson-"The Risen Lord. Luke
"a: 1858.
s0i he Honest.