Evening star., 1928-06-16

Christ's crucifixion Is the central and
pivotal fact Of all history. Prophets
priests and patriarcfs looked forward
towards Calvary. now the eyes OF all
look back toward Golgotha. where
Jesus endured the terrible punishment
that the Roman government inflicted
upon slaves and the lowest criminals
Denny has pointed out that "the Cos
pels describe the sufferings and death
Of Christ with minuteneSs which has
no parallel In their narratives Of other
events Of His life, and they all, TO a
certain extent, by reference TO the full
fillment OF Old Testament prophecy, OF
otherwise, indicate their sense Of its
meaning and importance. During the
Christian era the cross, which was a
symbol Of shame, has become the gio-
rious symbol of the Christians faith
and hope.
Our spiritual susceptibilities are In
dicated by the nature of our emotions,
when we turn In earnest thought to
consider the mystery, motive and mes
sage Of the crucifixion We viii find
ourselves in one of the three classes
that looked upon our Lord and the two
thieves between whom He was cruci-
fed. The hostile, indifferent and
friendly groups we're present that DAY
upon the Place of the Skull. They still
exist among men. The large group OF
hostile folks followed the Roman SOL
diers and Jesus bearing the cross. The
enemies OF the Master were rejoicing
over their victory. The indifferent ones
included the vast multitude who passed
by without giving history's supreme
Tragedy any. thought. and the depraved
crucifiers who gambled at the foot OF
the cross for our Lords clothing, abso-
iutely indifferent 10 the fact that they
mad crucified the Son OF God.
The friends OF Christ included Hi.
mother. the faithful woman, His apos.
Ties and many secret sympathizerg
scattered throughout the crowd. They
were newildered by the death of theii
Sympathizing Friend and Teacher
They had not grasped the Lords pre.
dictions concerning His death and were
filled with sorrow over the Master
suffering. They were destined to wit.
ness the sacrifice OF Jesus upon thu
cross To become the power of God.
The Moeking Multitude.
The irresponsible mob was provoked
by the leadership OF the chief priests
scribes and elders They incited thu
rabble by their sarcastic remarks. They
Haunted their triumph In the face ol
the crucified One. trying to insult Hin
and Jeering at Him In every possible
way they could. They selected sucl
sayings and incidents that they thought
would sting Him the deepest. They die
not realize that some Of their sayings
used 10 dcride Him and mock the Mas.
ter, both vindicated HIS claims ane
helped 10 comfort His soul. Thou
that destroyest the temple, and build,
est 1t In three days" This prophecy
which they had used 10 convict Him b,
twisting It's meaning. Jesus knew was
being literally fulfilled, for He looked
ahead 10 His triumphant victory over
death In three days.
They taunted Him with the sugges-
ton that II He we're able to save Him
self, He should come down from the
cross. They did not know that Jesus
was born and entered the human race
with the purpose of dying upon the
cross to save sinners. He could moi
come down from the cross, as they
mockingly had challenged Him to do
but He would come down from the
cross after He had paid the penalty for
their sin. The cry that let Christ
the King OF Israel, descend from the
cross. that we may see and believe, ~
was probably intended TO divert the