The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-06-13
OF THE CRUCIFIXION.
the INTERNATIONAL SCNDdf-
school LESSON ron TOMORROW.
Upon How Many Souls Does the Eespon-
sibliity for the Awful Catastrophe OF
Calvary Rest?"
June nth-Jesus cruclned.-Luks kill.

June I4tH-JeSlS NIeciieu'--LehS NN"'''
3S-46.
The story OF the cruciGxion cannot be
fully told I'm a single lesson In the pres
ent article we shall only point out a fe"
OF the higher peaks in the landscape
steering c,eai. OF the muititudes OF truths
which are suggested by minor details.
The fact thar a man is known by the
company he keeps suggested 10 the
enemies OF Jesus the plan or sendihs TWO
malefactors to be cruciheu WIZ" ~"
They had proved nothing against n,'n'
and thev needed 10 use every possible
means IN keen I'D appearances. IL was
a shrewd stroke OF policy that nuriueT'u
him with the transgressors. 1t was
mart of the same policy. and not mere
accident that cruciied Jesus between
the other two making him appear inc
chief among the transgressors lie VINO
know no sin was made sin for us lie VINO
had never transgressed any part Oh inc
i. law was made 20 pose as chiet atnoNS
Indicators.
.Drhere they crucihed him The pro
noun refers primarily To the soldiers pu'
Il makes us shuddor 20 pronounce H.
They crucined him. Who are theyf mo
drove the cruel nails through his hahos
and feet2 Upon how many souls does the
responsibility for the awful catastrophe
OF Calvary rest2 Whose sins brought IL
about2 How far away may we look TOT
the circumference OF which the Cross y
the centrc2
Tho exercises opened with prayer But
no priest in glittering robes oiiiciated. me
priests were there. bus they did not dare
commend that soul to the mercy OF Goa.
IL was easier to stand off and keep their
.frff. f.s HfrriWU fHflufS az the SA.-
fcrCr
Father" cried Josus-perhaps al the
moment the Cross, with its precious bur
den. was lifted ard dropped into Its place
in tho eround-"Father. forgive them. FOR
they krow not what they do. - In mo-
merits OF exquisite pain we are expected
10 be selfish. We feel that we have
-..it % think only OF our own condition;
we resent as an act Of inhimdnity any at
ton Dt 10 secure our attention TO the
affairs II ano'her. but Jesus deyotos
such moments I praying for his enemies.
May we not fud a way 10 put our feet
ever in the Footprint Of our Lord2
There were three hours OF noise, during
which all The devils I'm the universe seem
70 have Joined hands and dansed with
flendish glee abant Calvary. The brutal
executioners alone forgot 10 taunt the
monts among them and throwing dice for
His truir. which was woven I'm one
piece. This man had healed the sick and
restored the blind and raised the dead,
and cast ont devils from Judea tc Caesa-
roa Phllippi and from Tyre TO Decapolis,
and there was nothing left but SUIT OF
clothes 10 show for IL. hundred mil
lions would have been small sum II
Die had charged for His services, or II
He had declined pay. but accepted all
voluntary offerings" Verify. the wealth
OF that life consisted in the things It
gave. not in the things II received.
While the exocutioners were dividing
His garments. the devil made his final
assault "Ho saved others. let Him save
Himself il He be Christ. the chosen or
God" 10 was "a repetition. OF the tempta-
ton in the wilderness. II Thou art the
Christ. use Thy divine power for Thy
self Why not? The question has troubled
many a casual reader but the answer Is
plain: "He was made I'm the likeness Of
men. and. being formed in fashion as a
man lie humbied Himself. and became
obedient unto death When he became
a man. lie subjected Himself TO all Of
mans limitations. II He would show us
how 10 live, IL was necessary that he
should be Ike u.s. and depend entirely
upon the Father Just as we musD for
the supply Of Ills needs. And SO, while
lie used His divine power for others, lie
would not use IL for Himself. II. at a
critical moment. when driven 10 the wall,
He had rescued himself by calling for ten
legl0ns OF angels, what would Ills eN-
ample have been worth 20 us? We would
have said that he lived like u nan until
he got i'm a tight place. and then. finding
IL "a 81 hack Iffg Hfffu4
power.
The story Of the nalefactors gives Us
some idea OF the size Of the storm teat
ragged around the Cross. To what a height
must The spirit OF the mob have risen for
a an suffering the horrors Of crucihxion
To- catch &C. And one of the malefactOrs
which were hanged rallied on him" Never
was there q moment when satan held
such sway over the minds OF men. But a
gieam Of light shines through the dark
ness. The scenes which had hardened The
hearts OF the multitude broke the heart
Of the other malefaclor. We have no
particulars concerning this wonderful
event. the story of which IS
here set up as beacon light
To shine down through the ages upon tne
heads and hearts of those who nave
reached the eleventh hour in "a BE OF
sin. lie may have seen Jesus before, Evil
IDENTIFY he had heard about Him. and was
familiar with the conflicting rumOrs as 10
His Messiahship ana during the past
hour the conduct q Jesus had drawn
his attention even from his own suffer-
ings. and the question had gone down
into his heart: The man who can act
as lie does-is He not the Messiah? And
il found an answer. And IN the strength
OF that answer lie rebuketh the other
maiefactor. and. turning TO Jesus said:
Lord remember me when Thou contest
into Thy Kingdom" What picture this
man presents. praying % one upon whom
the multitudes were splitting their We
nom. And Jesus said unto Him: Verify.
1 say unto Thee. To-day shalt thOu be
with Ne I'm the place OF the blessed
dead" What poor sinner, who has burn
81 the candle nearly TO the stick. can
look upon this picture. and refuse TO
hoDe2 ON the other hand vnlt poor sin
ner can look upon this picture and be en-
couraged to go on while longer in sin?
The three hours OF noise We're follow FL
By three hours Of darkness, when chilled
the mob into silence and nlce Ii possible
for them 10 hear His lls words. An
then at 3 clock. wheA The priest WAS
Offering up the lamb in the temple the
Lamb OF God offered ~ Himself Tor the
sins OF the whole world The officer who
stood by the Cross. startled by a piercing
shrek looked uD in time TO see the head
fall upon its breast. and. turning about.
Whispered: surely this was the Son