Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-03-18
LESSON FOR MARCH 20
JESUS ON THE CROSS.

LESSON TEXT-Matt 27:33-5o.
GOLDEN TEXT-God commendeth His
love toward us In that while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us.-Rom, SIS.
REFERENCE MATERlAIr-Matt.2 6;3l !;
1852; John l2:2i-S3; Cor. 1:lS-25; 81; Gal
sa4
PRIMARY TOPIC-Jesus Dying for Us.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Jesus Cruclfed.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
The Supreme sacyihce
YOUNG PEOPLEAND ADULT TOPIC
The Cross and Its Meaning Today.
The grand climax Of the six months
lessons Is reached in this one. If one
miss the significance Of the crucifixlon,
I'LL the preceding lessons are value.
less. 1t Is not Il matter of learning
the lessons taught by great teacher,
or initiating the examples of a great
and good man. but of apprehendins
the atonement made by the worlds
Redeemer.
1.-The Place Of crucfixion wv. SO,
3D.
They led him away to Golgotha, u
hill north Of Jerusalem resembling a
skull. He was not crucified within the
city, for he was to suffer without the
gate UIeb. - :12). At first they com.
PEELED him to bear his own cross, but
when physical weakness made 1t nee.
essary that some other should bear It
for Him, they compelled Simon the
Cyrenan to bear It, In order that He
might not succumb to death before He
was nailed TO the cross, the soldiers
offered Him a stimulant of "inegar
mixed with gall. He refused this as
He would consciously drink the cup Of
sin to its bitter dregs.
II. Gambling for the Clothing Of the
Lord wv. 80 36).
1t was the custom for the soldiers
who had charge of the crucifixion to
receive the garments Of the one cruel
fed. Here we have the fulfillment Of
Psalm 22:1s. "They parted my gar
ments among them, and upon my YES
ture they did cast lots If they had
but eyes to see they could have beheld
a robe of Righteousness being provided
in His death to cover their sinful
nakedness.
III. The Accusation ". 81.
1t was customary to place over the
victim of the cross the name and
crime of the offender. This super
scription was placed over Jesus by
Pilnte to veX the Jews. He was their
King. They had long looked for Him,
and now when He had come this is the
kind of treatment they gave Him.
Though they rejected Him and placed
a crown of thorns upon His Head, the
throne of His father David Is His by
right Of the unfalllng covenant Of
God to David Oh Sam. 1870, and He
shall come again with crown of
glory, and before Him shall Jews and
Genties bow.
". Two Thieves crucifieo With
Him ". 3S).
This was another fulfillment OF
Scripture lisa. 53:12), "He was num-
bered with the transgressors." In
these three crosses we have set forth
n spiritual history of the whole
world.
V. The Dying Savior ReviIed wv.
39-44).
This reviling was engaged in by
he passerby, the chief priests, scribes
md elders, and the thieves who were
with him. In their mockery
they unwittingly spake great truths.
l. ale saved others, himself he can
not save" ". 42). This jest was
meant to show the absurdity of Jesus
laims, but 1t demonstrated them
md showed the reason for His suffer
ngs. He could not save Himself and
,thers, so He chose to give Himself
10 save others.
2. "If he be the king of Israel let |
him now come down from the cross
". 42). His refusal to abandon the
,ross established His royal claims. The |
very fact that He did not abandon the
cross proves that He was what He
claimed to be for 1t was unto the cross
hat He came.
3. ale trusted in God, let him de-
liver him now ". 43). His refusal
% abandon the cross proved Gods full |
lelight and satisfaction In His Son. His
obedience unto death was the sacrifice
which met Gods full approval.
VI. The Death OF Christ (vv. 1850.
So shocking was this crime that ma
ure threw around the Son of God
hroud that the Goddess company
,oud not gaze upon Him. Darkness
vas upon the land at monday. Upon
he termination Of the darkness He
'ried with a loud voice "My God, my
Tod, why hast thou forsaken me?"
This darkness was the outer sign of
hat which hung over the Lord. He
,ecame sin for the world, and the sin
lid Gods face from Him. God for.
ook Him; turned from Him who had
aiken the sinners place.
When the price was paid He cried
nut with loud voice, showing that
lie still mad vitalty-that His death
vas not from exhaustion, hut by His
overeign will. He yielded up the
host, sent His spirit away. He died
f His sovereign will. He died like nj
ther man In all the worlds history
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