Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-23
Sunday School Lesson for May "a Discussed
by Rev. ]. E. Gilbert, D. D., Secretary
American Society of Religious Education.
JESUS DEATH AND BURIAL. John. xix 2s-i2

INTRODyCTION-Th TRACE scenes
enacted on Calvary have been the theme
of discourse and song through all the cen
turtles. and artists have displayed their
highest skill in attempts to represent them
to after generations. One is bewlldered
who contempIates the awful cruelty and
the indescribacle suffering. il was by
this that the Son o. God made atone
ment for the sins cf the world \ nlys-
terry hangs about this method Of provid-
.ns salvation for lost race. Theolosians
and philosophers have been unable Ia ex-
plain why such deeds of blood should ef-
.ect any change il the relations between
God and man. pit that the change WAS
effected all confess. The story OF the
cross. wherever told has Won the hear;
to repentance faith and love This result
IS its chief significance and value lii our
study today have the closing events,
tcld in a simple style. as matters OF his
tory and not OF doctrine OF spiritual
power.
THE END tNerses os-spl The death
Of CHRIS was marked by three important
circumstances winch the apostle weaves
together. First, Jesus apprenended that
all things We're accomplished. His enemies
had done their worst. His life had been
sacrificed. The purpose al God had been
real .zed. There VS. nothing lacking to
the perfect oblatioa and satisfaction lie
aad mildly SLplnitted-aS sheep goes
To the S!aus inter- or lamb before Its
shearers Is dumb-so he had opened not
his mouth in complaint or pain. He had,
seemingly been indifferent 10 his bodily
suffering. But now ali was done. lie
knew the fact. Second with this con-
SclouSneSs came a return 10 a realization
OF his physical condition. The nails that
pierced His feet and His hands intiictiEg
great wounds. had produced a feN-riSh
state accompanied by an AWFUL thirst. ON
learning this those who had heard HIS
cry brought a sponge filled with vinegar.
a Supplying portion intended to relieve
pain. Third. Immediately He exclaimed:
1T is finished" He would lingef no
longer among those scenes Of torture. ere
ceiving the cruel offices of those about
Him. His head bowed upon His breast
and he was gone.
THE PREPARATION. Verse 3D.
All this occurred on the SIKH day of the
week our Friday. The following day, be-
ginning Friday evening and continuing
until Saturday evening, would be the sab
bath That particular Sabbath would be
a special day because all the people would
present themselves In the temple ae.
cordng TO the command and the sheaf
of the first fruits would be offered. Three
soemnitieS were TO be observed on that
day. That suitable preparation might De
made that these OhSerNaiiceS Wouitl ne
conducted with order and decorum, the
Jews began to get ready at o'clock Fri
day afternoon. They. therefore beSousht
PLATE that the bodies of Jesus and the
malefactors crucitied with Him might be
removed It seemed to them that unless
this was done the religious exercises OF
the Sabbath would be disturbed. and TINS
would be TO the Jewish officials great
breach in the public prorriety- The gov
ernor promptly granted the request.
xr-tsI Nc
feelings.
THE SOLDIERS. VERSES 3234D As
preliminary to the execution of the gov
errors order for the removal OF the
bodies soldiers were directed TO break the
legs of those who had been executed. This
was a custom established to protect the
au. horities by assuring them that death
had actually done its work. Except for
this there might have been swoon and
then revival. The soldiers proceeded
to perform their duty toward the two
thieves but on coming to the cross on
which Jesus hung the evidence OF death
was SO unmistakable that they brake not
his legs One of the soldiers. however.
pierced his side with a spear. and there
came forth blood and water. This told a
double story-the fact of death. more Ger
ia in than the prescribed method. and the
mode of death also 1t has been SHOWN
by physicians and surgeons that the wafer
was proof of internal conditions. what
is called a broken heart So that he died
not by the Roman spear. but by the sor-
row he experienced he gave up 'he
ebost-IIe laid down His life.
THE SCRIPTURE. tNerses 32-3i)
Under the illumination of the Holy Splr-
il. which Jesus promised to His disciples,
they were BILE af-erward to understand
and interpret all that transpired on TINS
occasion John. the writer OF inns COS
mel was witness at the time. and he mere
enters a most positive assertion that ms
record of the facts was truthful On ms
testimony they are to be received but
there was purpose which the soidlei
did not understand when he refralned rom
hreakine the bones of the Lord and when
he thrust the spear into His side. / nat
purpose pertained to legal requirements M, con- o.
corning sacrifices 1t was IN me h ~,
tbat no bone of a lamb offered should ne
broken (Ex.. xii:4s,. and Jesus was the
lamb of God. Iohn. 1862 In the Mes
sianic Psalm it was predicted tfsalin'
xxii,17) among indignities that would De
offered the skeleton would remain en,liet
An this, therefore. was 1uin'ifiieh' u
''t'p THE FRIENDS. Oversees Ss-a')-