The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-05-31
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JUNE e.


FOR JUNE 4.
Subject: "Christ Crucihed," John XIX,
17-3O-Golden Text: "The Son OF God;
Who Loved Me and Gave Himself For
Me-" Gal. H., Cocoon NJ entarv.
forth" From Pilates palace court, where
had been thesolemn mockery OF trial and
the testing mockery Of the soldiers. There
was a kind OF savage irony in making
man carry the implement on which he was
to suffer. In advance went soldier carry
ing q white board on which was written
the nature OF the crime. Next came
tour soldiers. under a centurion, with the
hammer and the nails, guarding Jesus.
Then came two robbers, each bearing bis
cross and guarded by. four soldiers. Jesus,
exhausted and weak and sore from Ills
scourging, was unable to carry His Cross
alone. The soldiers, therefore, laid hold OF
Simon from Cyrene In Africa, and com.
PEELED him to help carry the cross. On what
small circumstances hinges the veal OF
woe Of life! As for instance, the smallest
change in the time of Sinon's entering
the city.
18. The crucifxion occurred at about
O'Clock (Mark), the hour OF the usual
morning sacrifice Of the lamb, which was
the type OF Jesus, Lamb OF God, slain for
the sins of His people. The cross was not
80 lofty and large rs In most medieval pic
lures The feet OF the sufferer were only
Jesus was nailed to the cross while 1t was
lying upon the ground, then it was slowly
raised with the sufferer upon it. At this
time was offered to Jesus the stupefv'
draught which the women OF Jerus
were wont to administer to the sufferers,
but which Jesus, with sublime heroism, re-
fused to take. The first word from the
cross was probably spoken in the first
agony OF the act Of cruclfying. It was,
what they do" This expressed His feel.
ing toward His enemies through all
time.
19. "And PLATE wrote title" According
to the Roman custom that the criminal
should have upon his cross the nature OF
the crime for which he suffered, Plate
himself saw to the title in this case, In or.
der bya sarcasm to vent his feelings toward
the Jews, and give at the same time an
honorable title to Jesus, which proclaimed
Hin innocent OF any criminality.
20. "in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin"
This title was written In the. three Ian
guages then In common use, so that all
could read.
81. "Then said the chief priests" Who,
as representatives OF the Jews, felt that
they and their nation were insulted by the
Roman governor.
%. What have written have written"
PLATE refused to make the change. Here
again We see the divine overruling pur-
pose.
%. "Then the soldiers" who had charge
OF the crucihxion OF Jesus. The clothes OF
executed criminals we're the perquieites OF
the soldiers on duty. Took His gar
ments." His sandals, girdle, outer robe.
head-dress, etc: Also His coat, coat; now ,t1n the
the tunic, or under garment. It Teached
from the. neck to the feet.
"a. "Let Us not rend." For that would
make the garment useless. "But cast lots"
What picture! The Son Of God atoning
for the sins OF the world, whilst angels and
glorlfed spirits crowd the w1is OF the
celestial city to look down at the spectacle;
and within yard OF His sacred person,
the soldiers IN absolute apathy gambling
While the crowds were mocking
there vas most wonderful event TAX
ing place among the victims. Jesus was
actually doing some OF the work Ee came
from heaven to do. One OF the robbers,
while hanging on the cross, was converted
and forgiven, and began even then that new
life which could be developed and nurtured
In Paradise. The second word from the
cross. Jesus said to this robber. To-day
shalt thou be with Mo In Paradise. This
sentence expresses the very central mission
OF Jesus, to redeem sinners from sin.
rs. "Now there stood by the Cross"
while the m mocSeries were going on. "Hls
mother" Mary, doubtless widow at this
time. "Hls mothers sister, Mary the
wife OF Cleophas." His mothers Sis
ter was probably Salome, the mother
~ Tnh nhn yuI Zahadaq
MARY Magdalene." Probably 80 called
from Magdala in Galilee. the town where
she may have dwelt. She was not the bad
woman restored, OF Luke 7: SO. but had
been cured by Jesus Of demoniacal posses
sion.
&c. "The disciple standing BY whom He
loved" John, the author Of this Gospel.
The third word from the cross, Woman,
behold thy son! Behold thy moth. >.
her bereavement by having as her adopted
son the most loving heart among the dis.
ciples; and he was to care for her as his
own mother.
az. "And from that hour that disciple
took her unto his own homo" 1t is un.
certain whether John had n home In Jeru-
salem or not, but wherever his home was,
the mother OF jesus shared 1t and was one
Of his family. 1t is said by tradition that
he refused to leave the city, even. for the
purpose Of preaching the gospel as long as
Mary survived. This word from the cross
expressed Jesus's care for His loved ones
The fourth word from the cross was, My
God, My God why hast Thou forsaken Me?"
The expression OF human experience In
many AN hour Of darkness and despair,
without which Jesus would not have been
sin all points tempted like as We are, yet
without SIM"
28. "All things were now accomplished"
"FipiShed," the same word as in v. 80. 1t
Is finished" "That the Scripture might be
fulfilled" Connect this, not with ~
thirs:," but with the first part OF the verse.
Ali that the Scripture had foretold was &C.
complisned. There was nothing left but to
die. Saith, + thirst" This was the>hfth
word from the cross. This pain, as in the
case OF wounded soldiers, swallowed up all
other a9onies.
90. q vessel full OF vinegar" Sour
wine, the cheap, ordinary drink OF the sol.
diers. upon hyssop." A stalk or reed OF
hyssop. "And put 1t to His mouth This
slight refreshment would tend to restore
His natural forces.
80. The sixth word from the cross. "It Is
finished This is one word in the Greek,
and it has been called "the greatest single
word ever uttered" What was finished?
His life on earth, His life's work, the cup OF
suffering, the atonement for the sins OF the
world, the old era and dispensation, the
prophecies OF Scripture, the darkness OF
the nisbt. The seventh word from the
cross followed close upon the sixth, Faith
er, into Thy hands I commend My spirit"
duke %: 46). This word teaches US how
r. die II WINS n praysr II was from the