The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-11-25

Last Sunday we saw Jesus on trial
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
attenttvely> reverently, humbly. for it
cannot be treated even as other
events in the life of our Lord.
!. The Procession to Calvary, v. II.
Twas a physically exhausted Christ
that left the judgment hall. a night
Of vigil, hooking, buffeting and with
out food since the previous evening
left him too weak to bear the CROSS.
Then 1t was that a Son Of Africa,
Simon Of .Cyrene, was impressed" to
bear the burden. The Romans de-
handed that the victim bear his own
cross. He accepted the human help,
but refused the aid of the drug, Matt.
27:34. Luke gives us at this point the
incident Of the weeping woman. Mark
1928 seems to indicate that Jesus had
to 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-"crucfied." Sin has done
FITS worst. The Scriptures are fulfilled,
Ps. 22:16, Zech. 1910. It was neces-
sary for our salvation that he should
die exactly as he did, Gal. $40, 10;
John 3:14; Deut. 21:23. Even the
parting of his garments vas prophe-
sled, Ps. 22:1s. The presence OF two
m%alefactors had also been foretold,
lisa. 1919, IL.
III. The Passers-by at Calvary, w.
1882. The people and the priests
Joined in heaping scorn upon him.
Even. those that we're cruciied with
him ~"reproached him" Yet he loved
them all. There seem to have been
no gibes for the two thieves, John
1919, H. Tim. 3:12. The cry Of the
mob now Is save myself" ". 800.
Twas spoken in mockery, but they
spoke a truth, nevertheless: It was
necessary for the good shepherd to
give his life for the sheep, John 1911,
and by no ean to use his power In
saving himself. They did not believe
on him after the resurrection Of Laza-
rus; is it 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-ans
act of ~disobedience, and we read that
che was obedient unto DEATH" Phil.
2:8. He was obedient unto death, for
death had no hold upon him. He was
obedient to the passion and impulse
Of eternal love. X, -.
". The Person on Calvary, Wv. 49,.
40. In the midst Of this awful scene,
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. 1892, one
of those, his companions, ceased to
revile him, and cried out, cart thou
the Christi" and, to be literal, IT So,
save u.s." The other seems to have
had his vision cleared, for he rebukes
his fellow criminal by saying that
their condemnation vas a just reward
for their deeds. Turning to Jesus he
exclaims, Remember me . In thy
kingdom" The answer was imme-
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 and soothing 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 III
Cor. 5:21; Heb. 1913. We do not
believe the eclipse theory, but rather
that God caused the darkness, anoth-
er illustration of the closeness Of man
and nature, Rom. $3.50, 81 R. 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. 1876. 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. Other lives have a be-
ginning and an end, this one Is "in-
ished." His redemptive work Is &C.
complished and was later sealed by
his resurrection. He gave up the
ghost" not a common experience of
death, but a fulfllment Of his own
words, mo man taketh 1t (hls life)
away from me, but I lay It down Of
myself" In deed and in truth Jesus
gave up his life. John 19:25-27 tells
of the faithful and Of the com.
initial of Mary to the care Of "the dis
ciple"-John. Immediately following
his death the veil of the temple at