The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-04-03
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MARCH "a.

commentary On tho D"J .~
Is .sDerided Him." The crowd Knocked
Him from 9 till II o'clock. But there
we're also friendly watchers at the cross
John 10: 25-27). Jesus was not wholly
deserted in this sad hour. The women
were last at the cross and first at the
crave. The three Marys were there: Mary.
Che mother of Jesus; Mary, the wife of
Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene, with, sew
eral other friends ". 4S). Save Him.
self" They thought that if Jesus were
the Messiah, surely He could deliver
Himself from the Roman cross. ,.
So. Vinegar" 1t was about the time
of the midday meal of the soldiers. and
they in mockery offered Him their sour
wine to drink with them. The soldiers
pretend to treat Jesus as king, to whom
the festive cup is presented. The hrst
drink of vinegar and gall Jesus refused,
but this, unmixed with any drug, was ac'
cepted.
5s. "a superscription. The white tab:
let nailed upon the cross, above the head
of the victim, to declare the crime for
which He was cruci6ed. 1t was common
custom to affix label to the cross giving
a statement Of the crime for which the
person suffered. "Was written" Plate
WTOle CLlS SupeIsCilPtioi erluou1iJ III
rision. king of the Jews" The words
are somewhat different in the different
gospels probably because some of the
writer's copied from one language and some
from another. The truth was proclaimed
in jest; Jesus is in fact king with
many crowns" 's's1
80. "Railed on Him." The two thieves
crucifed with Him may have belonged to
the band with Barabbas; they evidently
knew something about the Christ. One
mocked. the other prayed.
40. "Dost thou not fear God?' What
ever the reckless crowd may do, thou art
near death; does this have no effect upon
you?
Al. "We-justly." He is true peni.
tent. confessing his sins. Nothing
anliss." He may have heard and seen
much of Jesus at the trial. 1t is more
than likely that at various times he may
have Joined the crowd where Jesus was
speaking. and have known of His miracles.
AZ. lord" The very use Of the word
implies faith. "Thy kingdom" He thus
recognized Christ as real King. His
prayer shows that he believed that Jesus
was the Son Oh God; that He had power to
save, and that they would continue to ex.
list in future state.
43. To-day" This was the second say.
ing of Christ on the cross. This verse is a
strong proof of the Immortality of the
soul. paradise" This is word of Per.
sian origin, denoting beautiful park,
garden or orchard. 1t designatcs the
abode of the righteous in the unseen
world. the home of repose and JOY beyond
the e. srsyTj STbs sixth bo,,rv-sooD. cbrist,s
third saying on the cross was spoken just
before this to His mother and to John:
Woman, behold thy Son." Behold Thy
mother" John l9: &c, q. Jesus in the
midst of His sufferings was thinking Of
others, and while on the cross made pro
vision for His mother. Darkness" This
darkness continued three hours, from
noon till o'clock. "Over the whole land"
(R. W Of Palestine. This darkness was
typical of che moral blackness that filled
the land. During the darkness occurred
Christ's fourth utterance on the cross:
My God, My God, why hast Thou for.
ing was: 81 thirst"
IS. "The veil-was rent" The great
veil of the temple that hung between the
Holy Place and the Holy of Holes, forty
cubts (sixty feet) long, and twenty (thirty
feet) wide, of the thickness of the palm
Of the hand, and wrought in seventy-two
squares, which were joined together.
46. with loud voice" AS it were
the triumphant note of a conqueror:
What He said first at this time is re-:
corded in John l9: 80, and was His sixth
saying on the cross: at is finished y
"Father," etc. This was His seventh say.
ing. "The word Father shows that His
soul has recovered full serenity" Not
long before this when struggling in the
darkness He called to His Cod" now
the darkness is gone and He sees His
Fathers face. Il commend My spirit.
I deposit My soul in Thy hands. Here is
another proof of the immortality Of the
soul, and of its separate existence after
death. Gave up the ghost" He dis.
missed the spirit. He Himself willingly
gave up that life which it was impossible
for man to take away; He thus became,
not forced sacrifice, but free-will offer.
ing for sin.
AZ. "The centurion" The Roman Off
Ger who had charge of the cruciiixion
"Glorifed God" When he Saw "what
was done" he acknowledged that God
Himself was showing His approval OF
Jesus "a righteous man." An innocent
man. According to Matthew he confessed
Jesus to be the Son of God.
4S. "Smote their breasts" In token oi
alarm and penitence. They were to some
extent penitent for their actions. Awe
and CONSERVATION seized upon the Jews.
80. "All his acquaintance. They be-
held him with the deepest sorrow over
their irrevocable loss, which was not yet
softened by the joyful hope Of the resur'
rection.
so. "a councillor" (R. W That is, he
was member of the Sanhedrin. He was
also rich man.
81. "Had not consented" He had
either voted against their action in the
council, OF, what is far more probable
had absented himself and taken no part
in the proceedings "Arimathaea." Some
identity this with Rama in Benjamin, OF
Rama in Ephraim, the birthplace Of Sam
uel. The form of the name is more like
the latter. Himself waited" He was a
secret, disciple John 10: 3S), and waited
for the manifestation OF the Messiah's
kingdom"
50. went to Plate" He went in bold
ly. 1t took great courage to do this. He
public sentiment, but he is fearless now
1 regard Joseph as one of the noblest
characters referred to in the New Testa
ment; he befriended Christ in this hour oi
awful darkness when even the disciples
forsook Him and fled.
3d. "He took it down" Joseph was as
sisted by Nicodemus John l9: 394el
they wrapped the body in linen with
spices, and placed it in new sepulchre,
in q garden near by Calvary. 1sa. So: 9.