Evening star., 1925-03-07

Chrisps crucihSion was the supreme
tragedy of history. 1t has demon
strated to the world "the power of
God" Men are attracted by the story
of the cross because they see in the
agony of the death Of Jesus and the
spirit with which He met it the evil
dence that has compelled them to say,
Socrates died like philosopher. but
Jesus Christ died like a god,"
Two sites are pointed ont as CAL
vary, the place of the Skull" to
tourists, One resembles the skull in
appearance, the other is covered by
church that has been erected by the
contributions of His worshipers
who recognized that Calvary Is the
center of all time. Here two eterni-
ties have met. In that sacred place
outside the city wall, near the road
side and close to garden, contain
ing an unused tomb, where the Lords
body was subsequently buried, an
event took place that fulfilled proph-
ecy. Being crucified outside the city
wall had symbolical meaning, mas
much as the sim offering of old was
sacrificed and burnt outside the city
gate. The question as to the place is
unimportant; the thing that is of
special significance to US is that
Christ died for our sins, according
! to the scriptures" 1t Is this fact that
has made Calvary the meeting epoint
of all ages Ancient. history con-
verged at the cross, where modern
history takes its rise
In being crucified Jesus was mum
bered with the transgressors." This
disgrace was in fulillment OF proph-
ecy. He was made conspicuous as
the pre-eminent transgressor, being
placed between them. 1t added to our
Lords agony, which was a threefold
one-physical, which was common to
every sufferer who died on the cross;
mental, which was peculiar to Him
because none other ever suffered the
mental agony which was His in that
hour: His highly organized and al
most divinely sensitive human soul
suffered all the shame of the horrible
indignities and injustice which IL was
His to bear, and all the disgrace of
being counted with the transgressors
and being considered guilty by the
multitude. not to speak of the agony
of being deserted by His disciples.
He endured far more mental suffer
ing, which was His because He felt
guilt of others, and was consumed
with a passionate sympathy which
was akin to guilt in His own soul.
He suffered spiritual agony that no
human being can understand. He en-
dured the feelings of being deserted
by the Father in His efforts to save
men. while He was passing through
the most painful and horrible meth
DDS of execution ever devised by man.
Time and space prevent our consid-
ering more OF the details of the way
our Lord had laid on Him the iniQuity
of US all, being wounded for our trans
gressions, bruised for our iniquities,
and receiving the stripes due as chas-
tisement for our sins. He revealed the
attitude in that hour toward His enc
mics, that He had taught His disciples
to possess by an amazing prayer for
those responsible for His being on
the cross.
Praying for His Murderers.
Luke has preserved for us three of
the seven words that Jesus spoke
from the cross. The first three were
for others: the next two revealed His
suffering, bodily and mentally: in the
last two Jesus announced the trt-
umph of His mission. and surrender
ed Himself to the Father, having
finished the work given Him to do"
In His word, Father, forgive them,
, for they know not what they do. the
Lord proved beyond question the self
sacrificing spirit that had always
marked His life. There is no thought
of the injustice He suffered, "of the
crime against society and the law s
of the state, of the sin against God,
which was being perpetrated." in His
prayer for forgiveness for His mur-
derers. The soldiers who carried out
the orders of Plate did not know that
they were crucifying the Son Of God.
Peter pointed out at Pentecost that
the Jewish people did not know that
they were crucifying the Lord of
Glory. While they knew in part.
Christ based His appeal for them on