The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-06-03
Sunday-Sch0Ol Lesson for June a.
Christ CruCified.
JOHN xix, 1880.
BY j. E. GILBERT, d. d. IL. D.,
Secretary of American Society of Religious Education

CONTEXT-After the cry of the mob
preferring Barabbas (Chapter Xviii 40),
Jesus was delivered to the soldiers who
put "a crown of thorns on Ills head, ar
rayed Him in purple robe, and mocked
Him as king. in this condition He
was brought forth to the multitude by
PLATE, who doubtless expected to excite
pity in the hearts of Ills enemies. But
the clamor arose as before, Cruelty
him, cruelty him." accompanied by The
assertion that He made Himself the Son
of God, for which blasphemy lie ought
to die. Alarmed at this statement Plate
withdrew with his prisoner to tho judg-
ment hall, and earnestly sought to find
some ground for release. Failing, how
ever TO pacify the people, PLATE once
more brought Jesus before them, saying
Behold your king" But they cried out
saying they had no king but Caesar. thus
relinquishing all their Messianic hopes
Overcome by these persistent demands
Plate at length yielded and gave the
sentence of death.
THE PLACE.-With that refinement
which the Christian religion inculcatcs,
the evangelists have given very meager
account of the crucifixion. One must
turn to profane history for the horrd
details of this brutal mode of punishment
inflicted by the Romans and other east
ern peoples. Passing out of the city by
the western gate, Jesus was followed by
motley crowd, the soldiers and the
slaves Uhe executioners) moving on in
an orderly way; the chief priests, who
had instigated the arrest, not far dis
tant; the noisy multitude, some before
| some behind, delghting in cruelty; few
women His truest friends, making loud
demonstrations of grief; and at least
| one of the apostles. Two thieves were
| led forth to eXpiate their crimes Matt.
xvii: 3S). The procession halted upon a
| slight elevation. famillarly called "the
place of a skull" known in Hebrew as
| Golgotha Verse IL, and in Latin Cat
vary Uuke xiii: 33). There at o'clock
in the morning mark Xv: 2O the Son of
| God was nailed TO the cross Verse 49,.
| THE TITLE-All the evangelsts agree
that a superscription was placed over the
| head of Jesus Verse 19), but they do not
agree concerning the language. In our
lesson we have Jesus of Nazareth the
| King of the Jews" The first Gospel
| omits "of Nazareth" and preflxes the
words "rhis Is' CNIatt. xvii: 80, while
! the second Gospel is still briefer MARX
Xv: 26J. The essential part, THE King
of the Jews" appears in ALL The writ.
ing was by order of PLATE, made before
the cross was lifted to its upright posi-
ton, it being customary to announce the
| offenSe of a criminal. The words were
iE Hebrew, the language of the church
and in Greek, the language of the schol
ars; and in Latin, the language of The
! government CVerse 20) 1t was a plalr
announcement to all classes of III,
charge brought against Jesus duke xiii
p by those who had arraigned Him be
fore PLATE The title was eminentlS
proper. The chief priests and the Roman
ruler had combined, without intending t
do so. to do justice TO the innocent.
THE REQUEST. There have beer