Middletown transcript., 1921-03-19
LESSON FOR MARCH 20
JESUS ON THE CROSS.

JESUS ON THE CROSS.
LESSON TEXT-Matt. 27:3S-50.
GOLDEN TEXT-God commendeth His
love toward US in that while we were yet
sinners. Christ died for us.-Rom. 5:S
1852; John R:A-33; Cor. 1:1s-25; 2:1; Gal.
s:14.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Jesus Dying for Us.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Jesus Crucifed.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
The Supreme Sacrifice.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND 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 crucifxion,
all the preceding lessons are value
less. It Is not a matter Of learning
the lessons taught by great teacher,
or initiating the examples of great
and good man, but Of apprehending
the atonement made by the worlds
Redeemer.
1.-The Place Of crucifixion wv. 80,
34).
They led him away to Golgotha,
hill north of Jerusalem resembling
skull. He was not crucif1ed within the
city. for he was to suffer without the
gate (Heb. 1912. At first they COM
PEELED him to bear his own cross, but
| when physical weakness made 1t nee
essary that some other should bear 1t
for Him, they compelled Simon the
Cyrenian to bear it In order that He
might not succumb to death before He
was nailed to the cross, the soldiers
offered Him q 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. 35 38).
It was the custom for the soldiers
who had charge Of the crucifxion to
receive the garments Of the one cruel
fed. Here we have the fulfillment OF
Psalm 2:18. "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.
| Ill. The Accusation ". 37).
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
PLATE 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
q crown of thorns upon His Head, the
throne of His father David is His by
right of the unfailing covenant Of
God to David III Sam. 1870, and He
shall come again with a crown OF
| glory, and before Him shall Jews and
Gentiles bow.
w. Two Thieves crucified With
Him ". 38).
This was another fulfllment of
Scripture lisa. So :12), "He was num-
bered with the transgressors. In
| these three crosses we have set forth
spiritual history of the whole
world.
v. The Dying Savior ReviIed wv.
3944).
This reviling was engaged in by
the passerby, the chief priests, scribes
and elders, and the thieves who were
crucified with him. In their mockery
they unwittingly spake great truths.
1. "He saved others, himself he can
not save" ". 42). This jest was
meant to show the absurdity Of Jesus
Claims but it demonstrated them
and showed the reason for His suffer
ings. He could not save Himself and
others. so He chose to give Himself
to save others.
2. "Tf he be the king of Israel, let
him now come down from the Cross
". 42). His refusal to abandon the
cross established His royal claims. The
very fact that He did not abandon the
cross proves that He was what He
claimed to be for it was unto the cross
that He came.
8. "He trusted in God, let him de-
liver him now ". 43). His refusal
to abandon the cross proved Gods full
delight and satisfaction in His Son. His
obedience unto death was the sacrifice
which met Gods full approval.
vi. The Death of Christ wv. 45-50).
So shocking was this crime that ma.
ture threw around the Son of God q
shroud that the Goddess company
could not gaze upon Him. Darkness
was upon the land at MONDAY. Upon
the termination of the darkness He
cried with loud voice, my God, my
God, why hast thou forsaken meT'
This darkness was the outer sign of
that which hung over the Lord. BE
became sin for the world, and the sin
hid Gods face from Him. Cod for.
sock Him; turned from Him o had
taken the sinners place.
When the price was paid He cried
out with a loud voice, showing that
He still had vitality-that His death
was not from exhaustion. but by His
sovereign will. He, yielded up the
ghost, sent His spirit away. He died
of His sovereign will. He died like n1
other man In all the worlds history
He did not die Of broken heart.
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