The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1914-11-25
SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES
Side Lights on Next Sundays
Lesson for Teachers and Pupils
Edited by Charles X. Meyers.

We have for our lesson this week
the great closing tragedy OF the earth.
ly career OF Jesus the Christ, before
His resurrection. The death on the
cross in its details is most heart
rendins to consider. The tender, un.
offending Jesus, whose only mission
on earth was to dc good was humil-
lated in spirit and person by a jeer-
ing mob, condemned to death contrary
to the law and crucilied as a criminal
between two thieves. All this He
bore with patience and forgivine
spirit, as a fitting ending to life
work designed for the salvation OF
tho world from sin, seltishness and
unrishteousness.
We considered last Week the trial
before Plate which resulted in his
giving consent to the. death OF the
innocent one. A procession was then
made up and this wendell it's way
out OF the city of Jerusalem There
was a squad of Roman soldiers. Jesus
bearing His own cross and curious
mob bent on seeing the supposed end
OF the man whose words had created
so much stir, whose life had given
hope of throwing off the hated Roman
servitude, land which had now seem
ingly come to naught. TO them His life
was as that OF bright sun suddenly
appearing giving promise of brilliance
and destroying darkness, which now
sank helpless to earth the object of
scorn from those expecting to bask
in its rays.
The form OF the cross, and the prob.
able scene as Jesus hung there with
two others, one on the right and the
other on the left, are familiar to all
readers. OF this there are pictures
without number taken from the paint
lngs Of the masters, and the repre-
sensations in the Passion Play given
i'll the little mountain village in east
ern Germany. The cross which at
the time was used for the death only OF
hardened criminals or those to whom
it was desired to administer a most
painful execution has become the
most honored representation in the
world and the express emblem OF the
Christian faith, which has enlighten-
ed and civilized mankind.
Jesus was fully alive to all said
and done in those hours between His
arrest and death. He spoke little but
each time to a purpose. One of the
most remarkable OF His sayings on
the cross, showing the great forgiv-
ing spirit OF His gospel and arthly
career, was His prayer Father, fo--
2ivo them, for they know not what
they do" 1t could only come from
enc like this Son OF God forgiving.
tender, compassionate, understanding
the hearts and motives OF men. With
jeers and crys of derision and hatred
the Jews followed on, with cruel I'M
concern the Roman soldiers went
about their duties. Facing these,
there came from the heart of the
prisoner these precious words of
prayer for His tornentors misguided
motives OF those doing US wrong.
The promise OF immediate con-
seriousness in the spirit world after
physical death is found in the answer
OF Jesus to the appeal Of one of the
men suffering with Him. which comes
to US, 81 say unto thee. today shalt
thou be with me in Paradise?" There
is no mention OF waiting place
where sins are to be suffered for. but
immediate realization of companion,
ship with Jesus in a spiritual world.
How gracious the words CT forgiv
ness, how precious the words giving
certainty of life beyond the physi-
cal grave.
After commenting His mother,
Mary, to the care of John, there came
the time of fearful depression the
Sroan in spirit, the seeming with
drawal Of the uplifting power of God
and Jesus cried out My God. Ny
God, why hast thou rorsaken men
This was the bitter moment OF the
cross experience. In way there have
come such moments to all hearts!
when it seems as if the waves Of des-
olation were about to roll over. There
was in truth no doubt OF Gods power
and presence, but from the human
point of view there was the cry Of
anguish. In such times. one must
hold firm by faith. feeling sure that
man in His nature, made Jesus de-
clare 81 thirst" and this, kind hands
tried tc alleviate.
We now contemplate the closing
scene, the declarations OF Jesus ut
is finished and Faiths. into thy
hands commend My Spirit" This
latter thought can well be the one
OF the heart of all, called upon to die.
There now came events which struck
terror TO the minds of His enemies,
amazed the Roman soldiers causing
them to declare that indeed this must
have been the Son OF God. The sun,
which should have been bright. failed
to give light, the earth convulsed with
motion, strange scenes took place
where the dead had been buried, and
the veil or curtais in the great temple
in the city was torn asunder. Wal
lace, in his famous book, Ben Hur,
depicts the scene with fearful vivid
ness. 1t is told how the prosecuting
jews fed in terror from the scene,
seeking, hiding anywhere out OF.
presence OF the cross which had be-
fore held their close attention.
Te enemies OF Christ intended that
death on the cross should be the
downfall OF their victim, an end OF
His power and ministry. On the con
trary, it was but the beginning OF a
great triumph The miraculous res
direction was now to follow and this
the divine Christ was to be shown.
1t is hoped that the study OF this