Evening star., 1921-03-19
Sunday School Lesson
JESUS ON THE CROSS-Mat--
thew 27.S3-50.
Golden text-God commendeth
His own love toward us. Ia that
while we were yet sinners. Christ
died for us-Romans, 5.S.
ny REV. HIGH II. STEVENSON.

BY REV. HUGH T.. STEVENSON.
Jesus on the cross has been called the
most pathetic scene in history. In fact,
| there is nothing like it in all the ages
1t is the tragedy of all time. While We
have in this weeks study the story OF
the lowest descent in the infamy OF
crime and cruelty ever recorded in the
annals of men. yet this record of hatred
also reveals the greatness of Gods grace
and wonders of His love. His cruci-
fixion is the most significant event that
ever occurred in the history OF the
world The cross was not an after
thought; il was a part OF COO pro-
gram from the beginning. Christ
death was in accordance with a sreat
divine purpose to commend Goa ioNe
toward us. in that while we were YET
sinners, Christ died for US.
The death of Jesus was more thah a
demonstration of Gods love. Chi1st re-
vealed the passionate purpose OF lre
Heavenly Father by being wounded Ior
our transgression. He was bruised Tor
our iniquities: the chastisement OF our
peace was upon Him, and with MS
stripes we are healed" The saving sig
uificance of the cross has gwen II IN tue
history of the Christian religion It's cen,
trail position Redemption by the blood
of the Lord has been the very core OF
the divine revelation in Him. IL is
Christ lifted up on the cross ana seen
by faith who proves Himseif SUN hie
Savior and Lord, as we'll as the po~er
and wisdom of God unto salvation. inns
fact has made the crucifixion the cul-
mjnation of the Masters earthly career
and the foundation of our faith
Paul tells us that Christ died Tor
our sins. according to the Scriptures.
In the study of the Old Testament
one finds first of all the practice OF
animal sacrifice in the Hebrew re-
ligion and then there is the ideal OF
the servant of Jehovah. who saves by
suffering: and around this typical
figure gathers, as illustrating the
same truth, the saints ana heroes oi
the old dispensation, who suffered ior
the sake Of truth and righteousness
on behalf of others, as did these VINO
died to make the world safe for de-
mocracy. Sacrifice was not peculiar 10
the Hebrew nation, yet with the Jew
ish religion it received the deepest
moral significance. When men ap
proached God in worship, they pre-
sented a sacrifice, the efficacy OF which
was variously conceived. but the pur-
nose of which was universally recoS-
nized as the removal of the hinder
ancc to fellowship with Goa, due 10
sin. Harnack has pointed out that
wherever the Gospel has been preach-
ID the sacrifice of animals has ceased,
proying that the Cross OF Jesus tuliy
satisfies the need that sacrinces
sought to meet among men. IL Is tnls
that makes the study of Jesus on the
cross vital and important 10 all eSpe
cially to Christians.
In considering the crucihXion. tnere
| is value in studying the combined
writings of the four evangeiists' as
well as those of Paul. The composite
photograph illustrates mental proc
rhDr 80
ess Of great value, Ell, NT"ne &c, man in that
presented by the several accounts OF
| the crucifixion. The composite picture
loses in distinctness as mucn as IL
gains in comprehensiveness Ihe hfnlt
of space calls for the consideration OF
Matthews record SO that we ar
have the advantage of taking 1t aione.
His gospel was written to influence
the Jews to accept the Lord Jesus as
the Messiah and has several distnct
references, which are probably que
| to the purpose of the eVangeHsl
Matthew has two points OF diseinc
| ton One is that the knocking OF the
rulers is made more bitter and heart-
| less and the other is that ne mentions
a series Of events that TOOK place III
connection with the cruclnction OF
Jesus-an earthquake, the opening ol
! graves. the raising of departed SAINTS
and their appearance to many IN
Jerusalem after Christ's resurrection
| from the grave
| 1t was early on Friday morning,
after an illegal trial and an. unjust
condemnation by PLATE. that they
took Jesus to Golgotha. the place OF
| the skull. which name may nave
oririnated by the peculiar formation
| of the limestone knoll on which ne
was crucified, or possibly from the
fact that it was the place place ol nr;nie oIe
| mails. Crucifixion was death that
no Roman could suffer, it was re-
f! served for slaves and criminals. VINO
were not considered worthy or spe-
cial consideration. 1t was this fact
that gave the superscription written
by plate sting and deadly Insult
| to the Jews, whom he hated, espe-
cially the leaders who had compelled
; him against his judgment and wish
| upon the cross, This is Jesus. the
i king of the Jews" was equivalent TO
saving: "This nation cannot pro.
duce a better monarch than this; ana
tenders incur" Enduring the cross,
despising the shame meant more in
the Apostolic age than today me
| Masters death upon the cross was q
! real stumbling block to the Jew IN
| fact to the average enlightened is
raelite it was positive indlcatlon
| that Jesus was not the Messiah
; There are several ways of cruel
! exion. Probably Christ, when he
| reached Calvary, was stripped OF His
clothing with the exception of linen
! cloth about his loins. He was then
probably laid upon the cross as it
| rested upon the ground. His arms
were stretched along the cross-beams
| and His body rested upon project
| ing piece of rough wood. Huge nails
were driven through the tender
palm of each hand and the shrinking
center Of each foot: This process was
| severe but when the cross was lifted
and dropped into the prepared place.
! the shock was sure to cause great
anguish He refused the stupefying
| draught given to the poor victims be-