Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-06
Sunday School Lesson
Rev. Hugh T. Stevenson.

found no fault with Him. He would
have probably dismissed Jesus, except
that he saw In the fact that Herod, the
ruler of Galilee, who had beheaded
John, was III the city an opportunity to
show courtesy to him, so PLATE turned
the case over to the ruler Of Galilee. It
made him a firm friend OF PLATE, but
Herod after hooking and making light
Of the charge, sent Jesus back to PLATE.
The Roman ruler made the mistake
Of trying to satisfy the leaders. who
were prosecuting the Master, by a COM
promise. This was not satisfactory, so
when the multitude commenced to de-
mand that PLATE follow his custom Of
releasing to them one Of the prisoners
that they would name, the Roman gov
ernor proposed that he would release
unto them the King of the Jews. In
this he made mistake when he count
ed Jesus as a condemned man. whom
he would release and Acknowledged to
be the King Of the Jews. Their demand
for Barrabbas, the noted robber, left
Christ on his hands. Although warned
by his wife and knowing Christ's tnno-
csnce, he asked the people what he
should do with Jesus" and they de-
manded His crucifixion. Their refusal
of Christ as their King was a denial OF
His Messiahship. Centuries have passed,
the world has condemned the decision
Of PLATE and regretted the tragedy Of
that hour that nailed Christ to the
cross. Israel waits for their Messiah,
ing, when Christ returns again.
Christ Crucified.
Our Lords agony upon the cross was
threefold He suffered physically, men
tally and spiritually as the divinely ap-
pointed Savior. He died upon the
cross between criminals that we
would call gangsters today He showed
the weakness under which He labored
when He was unable to carry the cross
to Golgotha, the place of the Skull
The authorities impressed into service
Simon the Cyrenian, whom they met as
Christ fell down. He carried the Mas
ter'S cross for Him to the place of exc
cution. It may have been during this
halt that the women broke out into
lamentations. This first evidence of
human sympathy Jesus refused, as He
later did the cup, for He proposed to
carry through the work Of saving men
alone.
When they reached Calvary. probably
while the soldiers were mailing Him to
the cross, our Savior prayed, Father,
forgive them, for they know not what
they do" One cannot find a Sublimer
prayer in the Bible or in all literature.
The soldiers casting lots for His gar
mentS did not catch its meaning as they
gambled for the coat that possibly His
mother may have made. It is His
prayer for sinful humanity. No man
ever fully understands the terrible con-
sequences Of sin when he commits
iniquity, immortality or any form OF in
decency. The rulers In their sneers
~kE NnA
Himself" did net know, although Paul
learned later that God was delivering
Jesus, His only Son, for US. He was
expressing Gods love for sinners and
making possible our salvation, which
He could not do, If He saved Himself.
He refused the opiate when offered be-
cause He did not desire to disqualify
Himself either for suffering in obedi-
ence to the will of God or for looking
up with undimmed vision into His
Fathers face
One Of the malefactors was convinced
by ChriSt'S words upon the cross, so
that he criticized the other one for
joining with the multitude in hooking
Jesus. In answer to the prayer OF the
dying thief. the Master assured him
that he would enjoy paradise with Him
that day. There are mysteries in con-
nect1on with Christ'S cruc1fixion that
call for our mediation and study.
While there exists problems of solution,
it presents each one the question of
PLATE. What shall ] do with Jesus?"
We ought to rejoice that through His
crucifixion He has revealed the Fathers
love and the way of our salvation
through His sufferings, sacrifices and
services for US. He was wounded for
our transgressions, He was bruised for
our iniquities: the chastisement of our
peace was upon Him and with His
stripes We are healed" when He, with
the faith that we should possess. COM
mitted His spirit into the Fathers keep