The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1901-03-21


Luke xiii, 35-53-GoIden Text, I
Cor. Nv, 3-Menory Verses, 30, AZ
Commentary on the Days Lesson
IS. "Derided Him" The crowd mockes
Him from till II o'clock. But there
were also friendly watchers at the eros
John 10: 25-27). Jesus was not wholly
deserted in this sad hour. The womeI
were last at the cross and first at thu
grave. The three Marys were there: Mary
the mother of Jesus; Mary, the wife q
Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene, with sew
eral other friends ". 49). "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 tins
of the midday meal of the soldiers, anc
they in mockery offered Him m, their 5 sout
wine to drink with them. The soldier
pretend to treat Jesus as king, to WHOM
the festive cup is presented. The. frs
drink of vinegar and gall Jesus refused
but this, unmixed with any drug, was ao
cepted
So. "a superscription The white tab
let nailed upon the cross, above the heaG
of the victim, to declare the crime fof
which He was cruci6ed. 1t was common
custom to affix label to the cross givini
statement of the crime for which th(
DerSOU buutTcu w 90 WlleoSh' 1ieeo>
wrote this superscription evidently in de-
rision. liking of the Jews" The wordt
are somewhat different in the different
gospels probably because some of thu
writer's copied from one language and somt
from another. The truth was proclaimed
in jest; Jesus is in fact King WITH
many crowns" ere1
80. sRailed on Him" The two thieveS
crucifed with Him may have belonged te
IL d., fhnu dortl u
knew something about the Christ; On(
Knocked, 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. teWe-justly" He is true peni
tent, confessing his sins. Nothing
amiss" He may have heard and seer
much of Jesus at the trial. It is mort
than likely that at various times he may
have joined the crowd where Jesus wa
speaking, and have known of His miracles,
~. Lord" The very use of the Wort
implies faith. ''Thy kingdom" He thus
recognized Christ as a real King. Hif
prayer shows that he believed chat JesT
was the Son OF God; that He had power tt
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 {
strong proof of the Immortality of tn,
soul Paradise This is word of Per-
sian origin, denoting a beautiful park
garden or orchard. 1t designates thu
abode of the righteous in the unseen
world, the home of repose and Joy beyond
the grave.
a. "The sixth hour"-Noon. Christi
| third saying on the cross was spoken JUS
before this to HIS mother and to John:
woman, behold thy Son" ''Behold Thy
mother" John 10: 20, 81. Jesus in th{
midst of His suferings was thinking o
| others, and while on the cross made pro
vision for His mother. Darkness" This
darkness continued three hours, from
noon till o'clock cover the whole land"
| (R. w OF Palestine. This darkness wa
| typical of che moral blackness that fllet
the land. During the darkness occurred
Christ's fourth utterance on the cross:
MY God, Ny God, why hast Thou for
saken Me-" Matt. 81: 46. The fifth say
ing was: 81 thirst"
As. "The veil-was rent" The grea,
veil of the temple that hung between th>
Holy Place and the Holy of Holes, forty
cubits (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 wer{
| the triumphant note of a conqueror.
| What He said first at this time is re
corded in John 10: 80, and was His sixth
saying ON the cross: at is finished
Father" etc. This was His seventh say
ing. "rhe word Father shows that Hi
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. q commend My spirit"
I deposit My soul in Thy hands. Here K
| another proof of the immortality of th
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 a 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 thai God
Himself was showing His approval of
Jesus. GA righteous man." An innocent
man. According to Matthew he confessed
Jesus to be the Son of God.
4S. "Smote their breasts" In token, o,
alarm and penitence. They were to SOME
extent penitent for their actions. Awe
and CONSERVATION seized upon the Jews.
held him with the deepest sorrow over
| their irrevocable loss, which was not yet
softened by the joyful hope of the resur-
rection.
50. "a councillor Or. W That is, he
was a member Of the Sanhedrfn. He was
also a rich man.
81. Had not consented" He had
either voted against their action in the
council, or, what is far more, probable.
had absented himself and taken no part
in the proceedings. "Arimathaea." Some
identify this with Rama in Benjamin, or
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: 49, and waited
for the manifestation of the Messiah's
| kingdom"
50. Went to Plate" He went in bold
| ly. It took great courage to do this. He
had been a secret disciple aud afraid of
| public sentiment but he is fearless now.
| regard Joseph as one of the noblest
| characters referred "a. in the New Tesla
ment; he befriended Christ in this hour of
| awful darkness when even the disciples
| forsook Him and fled.
So. "He took it down" Joseph was as.
| sisted by Nicodemus (John Ig: 39-42l :