The Brinkley argus., 1906-12-07
JESUS ON THE
 CROSS
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Specially PrsSassd for This Pspes,
 LESSON TExT.-Luke 2s:ss-ls. Mem-
 GoIpENS rExr-~rather fi; forr,v. them: Tor they know not what they do.''
 TlME.-Friday. April :. from nine q m.
 PLAcE.-Caivary tGolsotha). just out eide the city of Jerusalem, probably on the north, 2o0 yards from the Damascus
 PARALLEL ACCorNrs.-Matt. z:s1- s6: Mark 1s:21-47; John 1t:1e-42
 Comment sNd eugosssive Thought.
 V. B. They" the Roman soldiers and their victim. "They cruciaed him. 1" Roman soldiers performed the act, but they were only instruments for car rying out the decree of Pilate, given to appease the bitter hatred of the Jewish rulers. It was more truly the Jews who ,crucifed Jesus. "Aa1efic- tors.y. Evfl-doers. Another account calls them thieves.
 V. 34. Father, forgive them" This was the first of Jesus seven sayings from the cross. Know not what they do" The soldiers were executing or ders, and did not know the character of the one they crucified. Pilate and the Jews knew that they were put ting to death an innocent man.
 V. 35. The people stood behold ing" Jerusalem was thronged with visitors at this the Passover season. Rulers derided him." Jewish rulers. probably members of the San- hedrin. were anxious that all should know that they repudiated the one who was being crucifled as King of the Jews" "He saved others" Bar castically implying disbelief in his miracles of healing. ~Let him save himself. or, as recorded by Mat { thew: "Himssif he cannot save'' Thus was uttered in jest an eternal and universal truth. Jesus could not save himself. and yet saved men.
 V. 36. "Mocked him offering him vinegar" They took. probably, some of the sour wine they had brought to refresh themselves, and pretended to offer it as festive cup to the kingly victim.
 V. 37"If thou be king. To the Gentle soldiers Christ's claim that he was a king seemed most absurd, and SO they tested about this.
 V. 38. "Superscription." On a white tablet made of wood coated with gyp- sum. was written in black letters the accusation for which he suffered. Pi- late had this superscription written in three languages-in Hebrew for the Jews, in Latin for the Romans, and in Greek, that strangers and for eigners might read.
 V. 39. "Malefactors which were hanged Perhaps these men were tied to their crosses by cords. Rallied on him. This one joined in mockiug Jesus.
 V. 70. "The other rebuked him. " Perhaps 1t was the meekness Jesus showed. or his prayer for his murder CTS. or his confidence in calling God Father or his whole bearing. that convinced the one malefactOr that Jesus was not only innocent, but that he was what he claimed to be-LOrd Of men.
 ". ll. We indeed justly" He nc knowledecd that his own sentence was just. We believe that he waa truly pen!tent for his s.ns .Hssh done nothing amiss! We do not know how much he had known about Jesus hefore this time. but at any rate he was convinced that Jesus was an~tn-. nocent man.
 V. 42. "Lord. remember me" He believes in Jesus love and feels His ability to save.
 V. 4s To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise" The man had prayed for blessing in far distant day, but Jesus grants him what shall be req lised today.
 V. 4l. sixth hour . ninth hour." From noon until three r. m, miracu- lous darkness eaveloped Judea;s as if the sun hid his face from behoiding the wickednees of men.
 V. 45 "Sun was darkened, This explanation endorses the testimony of astronomy that an eclipse of the sun at the time of full moon was impossi- ble tthe Passover was celebrated at full moon), hence the darkness must have been supernatural. The veil of the temple was rent" This rending sieaified that the way of access into the very presence of God was opened by Christ-
 V. 46. When" At the moment Je- aus felt that he was about to iOee con sciousness. after having pronounced the words Tt is finished" he cried with a loud voice. showing that his physical powers We're not exhausted, Father, into thy hands l commend my spirit" He committed his soul. as he had committed all else. to tho care of the Father. Cave up the shost." Breathed out his life. The word used indicates the voluntary sur render of life.
 Practical points.
 V. B. The spotless Lamb of God Aied in the midst of sinners. by and for mans sin.--1 Pet 3:18.
 v. 3l. As we think how much Christ forgave us, surely we should forgive