The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-11-26

| LAST SUNDAY we saw jesus on trthi
before Gentle power. Today's lesson
brings us to the central event Of his
saving mission to men. We must
read all four accounts OF this event
attentively. reverently. humbly, for II
cannot be treated even as other
events In the life OF our Lord.
.. The Procession to Calvary, v. n.
Twas a physically exhausted Christ
that left the judgment hall. A night
OF vigil. hooking. bufreting and with
out food since the previous evening
left him too weak TO bear the cross.
Then II was that a son Of Africa.
Simon OF Cyrene. was Impressed" TO
bear the burden. The Romans de-
manded that the victim bear his own
cross He accepted the human help.
but refused the aid OF the drug. Matt.
% 80 Luke gives us at this point the
incident Of the weeping woman. Mark
Is: % seems to Indicate that Jesus had
20 be assisted to the place OF the
cross.
On the Cross.
~. The Place, Calvary. w. 22-27.
Here we see him. the brightness OF
Gods glory and the express image OF
his person. the incarnation OF truth. In
whom dwelt the fullness OF the God
head bodily-"crucifed Sin has done
its worst The Scriptures are fulfilled.
Ps. % i6. Zech 1910. II was neces.
sary for our salvation thai he should
die exactly as he did. Gal $40. 10:
John 3i4 Dcut 2l23. Even tho
parting OF hts garments was prophe-
sled. Ps. 22;ls. The presence OF two
malefactors had also been foretold.
lisa 1919. ~
~. The Passers-by at Calvary. w.
1892. The people and the priests
Joined in heaping scorn upon him.
Even those that were crucifled with
him "reproached him" Yet he loved
them all. There seem TO have been
no gIbes for the two thieves. John
1919. II Tim. 3l2. The cry OF the
mob now y save myself ". 30).
Twas spoken In mockery. but they
spoke a truth. nevertheless: II was
necessary for the good shepherd to
give his life for the sheep. John 1911.
and by no means to use his power In
saving himself They did not believe
on him after the resurrection OF Lara
rus is II TO be believed that they
would have accepted him had he
saved himself" To have saved him
self would have been for him to take
himself out OF the hands Of God-an
act OF disobedience.
~. The Person on Calvary. w. 49,
20. In the midst OF this awful scNs.
in the confusion OF the mingled cry
OF the mob. there Is sounded one note
OF triumph. As Jesus was thus lifted
up from the earth" John 1882. ona
OF those. his companions. ceased to
revile him. and cried out. Art thou
the Christi and. to be literal. III SO.
save us" The other seems to have
had his vision cleared. for he rebukes
his fellow criminal by saying that
their condemnation was a Just reward
for their deeds. Turning to Jesus he
exclaims. Remember me in thy
kingdom" The answer was imms-
date and significant. To-day shalt
thou be with me In paradise" This
is a graphic illustration OF the whole
meaning and symbolism OF the cross.
In his undying hour the Savior OF men
loosed this sinner from his sins and
granted him the right to fellowship
with him In the life beyond.
Jesus hung upon the cross three
hours.
Bearing shame ana scofing rude.
In my place condemned he stood
Sealed my pardon with his blood.
HalleluJah what a savior.
His Faith Triumphant
Then God drew the curtain. for even
he could not look upon that scene I'll
Cor. 5:2l: Heb. IT'D. We do not
believe the eclipse theory. but rather
that God caused the darkness, anoth-
err illustration OF the closeness OF man
and nature. Rom. $40. 81 X. v. The
dying cry. my God. my God. why hast
thou forsaken me-" was uttered when
Jesus sensed the full and complete
realization OF being separated from
the Father Death Is not humiliation.
but separation. and Jesus was sepa-
rated from God the Father because of
our sins. lisa. 53:6. Yet In that terri
BILE moment his faith does not waver.
for he cries. MY God" Conscious OF
his personal innocence. but suffering
for the sins Of others. his faith Is
triumphant.
This lesson suggests that all who
study II yield themselves to 6 search
ing determination. Such a manifes-
tstion OF divine love should call forth
our utmost confidence and our I'M
questioned trust In our divine redeem
or. The revelation OF the enormity Of
mans sin as seen on Calvary ought
to all US with an Incorporating
hatred OF sin. The story OF the sa-
vior's sufferings ought to impel us to
q constant conflict with sin.
Those who Witnessed tho event Of
that day saw him stricken. smitten."
but God was In him reconcilipx the