The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-24
Sunday Study.
The cructfixiono OF Christ.

.
The International Sunday school les
son for March "a is found in Luke xiii,
44-5S The golden text is from l. Corin-
according to the Scriptures" The date
was between and 8 a. M,
on April Z, A D., 80. The place
of the cruciixion is not exactly
known, but 1t was outside the city, though
near it, and that it was near a garden.
The name was Golgotha, or Calvary,
which means ''the place of skull" Col
gctha is simply the Aramaic form for the
Hebrew word Skull. word applied
to the low hill or mound most likely be-
cause the shape was so much like that
Of skull. The drink offered to Jesus
by the soldiers was kind of cheap, sour
wine, the drink used by the soldiers
themselves. 1t was not much better
than vinegar. The Supplying draught
commonly given to criminals just before
execution was refused by our Lord, who
did not choose to dull his senses at that
hour. This was a Jewish custom, not a
Roman one, and it is said that wealthy
ladies Of Jerusalem took upon them
selves the task Of providing this merciful
potion
Three forms of the cross were in use,
one like the letter T, one like the letter
x, and third the shape more familiar
to us through pictures of the crucifXion
1t Is supposed from the fact that an
inscription was placed above the head
of Jesus as he hung on the CROSSE that
the latter form was chosen. The title
or placard was a white board with the
name and crime of the condemned writ
ten In black letters, which he was obliged
to carry suspended from his neck to the
place Of execution, when it was not car
ried before him. This placard was set
up over Jesus head-fastened in some
way to the top Of his cross. By the use
of the three languages there was no man
but might know the charge upon which
he was condemned. The parting of
Jesus garments corresponded in every
detail to prophecy. The seamless robe
such as was worn by most Galilean
peasants could not be divided, so the
four soldiers cast lots or gambled for it.
See Ps. %, Is, where it was foretold that
this would happen. The close watch kept
Up by the soldiers was in order that
Jesus friends might not come and take
him away. The brigands or robbers cru
Gifted at the same time were probably
partners or associates of Barrabas. The
usual punishment for robbery was cru
cifiXion. Large numbers of brigands,
mostly Jewish fanatics, were crucified
during the Jewish war"
Crucifixion was an unspeakably horri-
DE uedLn. AS cicero, VINO was well &C
quainted with it, says, it was the most
cruel and shameful of all ,punishments.
LET it never he adds come near the
body of Roman citizen; nay, not even
near his thoughts or eyes or ears 1t
was reserved for revolutionists whose
end was meant to be marked with special
infamy
Jesus did not linger in agony, as many
did until weakness and exhaustion set in.
He died While still vigorous enough to
speak in a loud voice The reed or hys-
sop which was held to his lips with the
sponge wet in vinegar or sour wine
is supposed by many to be the caper-
plant, which grows in that region and is
often three or four feet in length.
The councillor to whom PLATE granted
the body was member of the Sanhedrin,
and one whom even Plate respected on
account of his high position. He had
been a secret disciple, and now. came out
boldly and ayowed his sympathy with
the desDlsed Galilcan party. The gar
; den tomb hewn for himself in the solid
rock, was now given as a love-offeriug
! to Jesus.