The Tupelo journal., 1906-12-07
JESUS ON THE
CROSS
Sunday School Lesson for Dec. 9. 1906
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

tneM, 1Or they know not WHAT lhoy uo.
TIME.-Friday, April 7, from nine a. m.
PLACE.-Calvary (Golgotha). just out
side the city of jerusalem, probably on
the north, 200 yards from the damascus
gate.
sc; Mark ~15:21-47: John 1852.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
v. 33. "They." the Roman sold irs
and their victim. "They crucified him.
Roman soldiers performed the act, but
they were only instruments for car
rying out the decree of PLATE, given
to appease the bitter hatred of the
Jewish rulers. 1t was more truly the
Jews who crucified Jesus. "Malefac-
tors" Eyildoers. Another account
calls them thieves.
V. "a. 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. PLATE and
the Jews knew that they were put
ting to death an innocent man.
V. 80. 1.-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 crucified as King OF
the Jews" HE saved others" Sar-
castically implying a disbelief in
his miracles of healing. Let him
save himself" Or, as recorded by Mat
thew: Himself he cannot save"
Thus was uttered in jest an eternal
and universal truth. Jesus could not
save himself, and yet saved men.
v. SO. Knocked him offering
him vinegar" They took, probably,
some of the sour wine they had
brought to refresh themselves, and
pretended to offer it as a festive cup
to the kingly victim.
V. 81. eff 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. SO. "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. 80. "Malefactors which were
hanged" Perhaps these men were
tied to their crosses by cords.
Rallied on him." This one Joined in
hooking Jesus.
V. 40. "The other rebuked him"
Perhaps it was the meekness Jesus
showed, or his prayer for his murder
ers, 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.
v. Al. I'VE indeed justly" He acr
knowledged that his own sentence
was just. We believe that he was
truly penitent for his sins. Hath
done nothing amiss! We do not know
how much he had known about Jesus
before this time, but at any rate he
was convinced that Jesus was an in
nocent man.
V. AZ. Lord, remember me" He
believes in Jesus love and feels His
ability to save.
V. 43. To-day shalt thou be with
me in paradise" The man had prayed
for a blessing in a far distant day, but
Jesus grants him what shall be rea-
liZed to-day.
V. Al. Sixth hou . ninth hour
From noon until three p. m, a miracu-
lous darkness enveloped Judea, as if
the sun hid his face from beholding
the wickedness of men.
V. As. "Sun was darkened." This
explanation endorses the testimony OF
astronomy that an eclipse of the sun
at the time of full moon was impossi-
BILE (the Passover was celebrated at
full noon, hence the darkness must
have been supernatural. "The veil of
the temple was rent This rending
signiied that the way of access into
the very presence of God was opened
by Christ.
V. 46. when" At the moment Je-
sus felt that he was about to lose con
seriousness, after having pronounced
the words 1T is finished" he cried
with a loud voice." showing that his
physical powers were not exhausted,
Father, into thy hands l commend
my spirit" He committed his soul,
as he had committed all else, tt the
care of the Father. "Gave up the
ghost" Breathed out his life. The
word used indicates the voluntary sur
render Of life.
Practical Points.
v. 33. The spotless Lamb of God
died in the midst of sinners, by and
for mans SIM Pet. 3:18.
v. "a. AS we think how much Christ
forgave us, surely we should forgive
all who sin against us.-Eph. 4:32.
v. SO. The Christian need not mar
vel if, like his Master, he is called
upon to endure the reproach of men.
II Cor. Alb.
v. 81. By living for self, one loses
all that makes life worth living
Mark S:35.
v. AZ. He whom we so often forget,
ever remembers us.-Isa. 1915.
v. As. Through Jesus we have i'm
mediate access to the cry heart Of
God.-Heb. 1919, 20.
v. as. Let us freely gi re our lives
to him who gave his life for U.S.