Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-06-06
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson M.-Second Quarter, For
June 10, 1917.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, John xix. 49, 80.
Memory Verses, 70, 27-Golden Text,
Cor. XIV, 3--commentary Prepared by
Rev. q. NJ Stearns.


PLATE seems TO have tried again and
again TO release Him. and bis wife
also sent him word to have nothing to
do with than just man, for she had
suffered many things In dream be
cause of Him Matt XVII. l@ Peter
testified after Pentecost that Plate
was determined to let Him 20 acts
Iii. l3l He evidently thought when
he asked them TO choose between
Christ and Bara bias as TO which be
should release unto them that they
would surely ask for Christ. But they
cried out Not this man, but Barab
bas.' although Barabbas was robber
and murderer chapter xviii. 40; Acts
Iii, IA, Pilates fear to touch Him In
creased when the Jesus said that His
crime was that He said He was the
Son of God Verse u. When PLATE
asked Him about this Jesus at first
made no reply. but little later said
to him. Thou couldest have no power
against Me except 1t were given thee
from above: therefore be that deliv-
cred Me unto thee hath the greater
sim verse H.
The first part OF this reply must re-
fer TO the win OF God, the determinate
counsel and foreknowledge Of God, that
which His. hand and His counsel deter
mined before to be done (Acts ii, IS; iv.
2Sl. the last part to the high priest
who delivered Him to PLATE. There
are degrees of sin and degrees of pun
ishment for the lost, as there are de-
grees OF rewards for the righteous
luke xii. AS; Rev xxi, ~, When
the Jews cried out, IF thou let this
man go thou art not Caesars friend;
we have no king but Caesar
oversees IL i's. Plate took water and
washed his hands before the multi
tude. saying. Il am innocent of the
blood of this just person; see ye to 1t"
Then the people said. His blood be
on us and on our children" Then he
released Barabbas. scoursed Jesus and
delivered Him to be crucified tliatt
xvii. 24-a6l Why did he scourge Him
after be declared Him innocent! WHY
did he deliver Him to the brutal sol
diers 10 be Knocked and spit upon and
SO III treated: Even guilty man Is
projected from injustice at the hands
OF bis enemies as u rule II we cannot
reply to the why. let each one at least
say II was all for me- the Holy One OF
God suffering In my stead When we
see the SOFA of Gcd. the Creator Of all
things the Judge of all mankind. re
ceiving sncb treatment at the hands OF
the civil and religious authorities and
remember that they are just the same
today. what should lie our attitude to
them? When we hear PLATE say. BE
hold the mann and Behold your
king tverscs OLD we think of the
true testimonies OF the Spirit. Behold
the man whose name is The Branch"
and Behold. thy king conethr'
tZech. vi. II: tx. 81
So PLATE delivered Jesus to be cruel
fed. and they took Him and led Him
away. and He. bearing His cross. went
forth verses l6. In They met one
Simon. u Cyrenian. coming into the city
and compelled him TO turn about and
help Jesus bear the cross or bear il
for Him luke xiii. 26l. weremember
thar He said. .If any man will come
after Me. let him deny himself and
take up his cross and follow Me
Matt. xvi. 2i,. Let us not forget that
the cross is never anything beautiful.
but cruel thing signifying painful
and lingering death. Many women fol-
lowed Him. bewailing and lamenting
Him. but He told them not to weep
for Him. but for themselves and their
children because Of the things that
would come upon them Luke xiii. 81
BIZ. Having reached Golgotha. they
crucitied Him and two evildoers with
Him. one on either side and Jesus in
the midst. and thus He was numbered
with transgressors. all for me-
The four soldiers divided His gar
ments among them. but for His coat
they cast lots. thus fulfilling another
Scripture verses %. "a: Ps xii. 49,.
Perhaps three more awful words we're
never written than these They cruel
fed Him" Verse 49,. when we consider
who He WAS that they crueifed, the
Prince Of Life. the Lord Of Glory
tActs Iii. Is: Cor. ii. 81, and that He
submitted to be curse for us thgt
we might not perish tGaL Ill. 49, We
have In our lesson three of His seven
sayings on the cross (26. %. 30,: hut.
taking them In order from all the rec
ords. We have first forgiveness. evcp
Tor those who crucifed Him: then
glory for even u penitent thief; then
provision for His own mother. suggest
ing the supply Of all we can need be
tween salvation and glory. The fourth
was ut the beginning of the darkness.
My God. my God. why hast thou for
saken Me?- and the other three at the
close Of those awful six hours. II
thirst 1T is finished" Father. into
thy hands commit My spirit"
When the Jews asked PLATE to have
the bodies removed that their Sabbath
dav might not be desecrafed (Oh the