The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-12-07

NOAH LlNGLE.
M. j. Griffin, Auct.
Inn. 3. Jones. Clerk. 49-2t
SUNDAY SCHOOL COLUMN.
Dec. 1.-THE Crucifixion. Matt. q,
1880.
We study this week about one of
the greatest events of the worlds his
tory-the' death of Jesus the Christ.
His death and almost immediate rising
from the dead make up series OF
events which are of deepest import
ance to every human being. The en-
tire bible rests on the death and resur-
rection of Jesus. For hundreds OF
years the Jews had slain the innocent
lamb as a sacrifice for sin. In due
time the great sacrificial Offering ap-
peared and fulfilled in every detail
what had been foretold should hap
pen, giving up His life as a ransom
for the world. The end OF His life
on the cross was not unknown to
Jesus in advance. He had declared
to the disciples that He should be
lifted up as was the serpent in the
wilderness. He had also said that il
He was lifted up He would draw all
men to Him.
We shall not dwell at this time long
on the details of the death of the
Savior. These are familiar to all. 1t
| is known that although innocent He
was condemned to the cruel death on
the cross, and that two criminals
were executed with Him. What for
giveness did He show when He prayed
the Father to forgive His tormentors
and murderers, because they under
stood not what they were doing. How
thoughtful and considerate of Him to
note the presence of His mother,
Mary, and charge the disciple, John,
to befriend her! How terrible must
have been His agony of mind when
He cried out, my God, my God, why
hast thou forsaken me-" How prec-
ious were His words to the repentant
thief, which gave the assurance that
that very day both should be together
in heaven. His last words were those
of trust of God for He said: Father,
into thy hands commend my spirit"
Well is it with us if we can pass to
the other life with such words on our
lips.
If the life of Jesus had been start
ling and wonderful the events sue
ceeding His death were all the more
so. The, earth was shaken as with an
earthquake, the sun ceased temporar-
! lily to shine, graves were opened, the
great curtain in the temple at Jerus-
allen which separated the most holy
place from public gaze was torn asund-
err. In his great book of Ben Hur,
Wallace describes in vivid detail what
he considers the feelings of the Jews,
who had connived at the death of
Jesus, as their consciences began to
quail as the belief came home to them
that the crucified one was indeed the
Christ. They rushed from the place
in panic-stricken fight, appalled, at
the manifestations in earth and sky
which followed so close of the death
of the Nazarene.
All this agony and humiliation was
endured that a ransom for sin be made
which would "once for all" atone for
the sins of the world. The blessings
flowing out of it, each one of us can
obtain by faith in Jesus and obeyjng
the will of God as found in the bible.
We dwell on the death of Jesus so
much because of it's effects on each
personally.
On reviewing again the fearful
events, of the betrayal and ignoble
death of Jesus, it should make us more
determined than ever to appreciate
what has been done on our behalf. If
Jesus bore this all for us, should we
not be willing to bear something for
His cause here on earth? Let it be
remembered that if we share in His
death and suffering we likewise share
in the glory of the resurrection which
is so soon to follow in bible history.
So while our hearts are torn with grief
on contemplating the scenes of the
trial and crucifixion, yet there is &C.
casion to rejoice that we are the re-
cipients of such love, and that blessed
eternal life was thus made possible
to US. Let US give thanks that we are
now victorious over spiritual death,
and can look forward to seeing the
blessed Jesus face to face. May God
make US worthy of such transcendant
Joy.