Evening star., 1928-06-16
Sunday School Lesson

people from thinking too much about
the inscription, that PLATE had placed
above the cross in spite Of their, pro-
test. The inscription without doubt
was placed there In fit OF rage and
spite on the part of PLATE, who planned
to humiliate and insult the leaders
who had delivered Jesus up to him and
demanded His death. 1t had declared
the significant universally of His mis-
sion and message to all men. while
they sought to undermine His faith in
Jehovah and break down His superb
moral courage, poise, and perfect self
control during the dark and trying
hours of His crtIcifixion.
The Darkness Of His Crucifixion.
A supernatural darkness covered Je-
rusalem during the three hours He had
hung upon the tree. No human eye
saw or understood the depths of the
Masters suffering upon the cross. He
endured greater physical, mental and
moral pain than We can ever understand
because Of His character, purpose AID
personality. He endured IN those three
mortal hours what no human being
could have endured. The burden Of the
sins of men was SO great that His soul
burst out with cry such as had never
been heard In earth or heaven before:
MY. God, My God why hast thou for
saken me?" 1t was darker for the
Savior at that moment, when He was
bearing the extreme consequence Of the
sins of men. 1t is only the cry OF the
seven, which Jesus uttered from the
cross. that Mark has given to us.
No one can recall the words from the
cross without being moved greatly. for
He can see In them the demonstration
of Gods grace. love and the cost of
our salvation in part. His prayers.
forgiving spirit for those who had
caused His crucifixion. It indicated the
attitude Of God toward sinners: COM
mending His own love towards us in
that while we were yet sinners. Christ
died for u.s." His promise 10 the dying
thief OF paradise recalls how He has
opened the Fathers home for all be-
lievers. Protecting His widowed mother
by intrtlsting her TO Johns faithful
and loving care testifles of how real
religion Is proven by our attitude to-
ward the widow and ought 10 impress
upon us the obligation that the church
has To help them bear their sorrow
and burdens. His cry, Il thirst"
revealed His physical suffering. Just as
He showed his loneliness and despair at
the removal of the Fathers presence
from Him when He was tasting the
penalty OF mans sin for us. There
was a note of victory In His declara-
ton. ut is Finished" There was an
expression OF triumphant faith when
He proclaimed, Father into Thy hands
commend My spirit" and entered into
the gates OF death conqueror when
He died for us.
The Radiant Cross.
In connection with the Masters
death there were several distinct full
ailments Of prophetic scripture, which
proclaimed His deity. He was num-
bered with the transgressers; the outer
garment was divided among the four
executioners. but upon His vesture they
cast lots; the cry OF thirst escaped His
| lips In the hour of intensest anguish;
no bone OF His body was broken, as
was usual with victims to hasten the
end: and His side was pierced by the
soldiers To ascertain II He we're really
dead"
Al the moment of His death the veil
that separated the hottest part OF the
temple from the holy place was rent
In twain. This signified the end Of
the old dispensation and marked the
fact that Jesus by His death had opened
the way for all 10 the Father by His
blood. The inscription upon the cross
was prophetic Of His coming victory.
The way Christ died convinced a Gem
tile, who had shared In His crucifixtion,
that Jesus was "the Son Of God" He
proved by His death that He was
prophet, priest and king. We accept
Him as prophet when we recognize
the authority of His teachings and COM
mence TO follow them. We accept Him
as our high priest when we rely upon
Him for the DaFdon Of our sinH and o,Ir