The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-03-17
IMPROVED S
iUNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
iCUNDAyI
OcHOOL Lesson
(By REV. P. B. FITzwATER. D. D.. Mem
Der of Faculty. Moody Bible
Institute of Chicago)
re. 1892. Western Newspaper Union.)
Lesson for March 20
JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS

LESSON TEXT-John 19;17-22; $3.50.
GOLDEN TEXT-For delivered I'M
to you first of all that which I also
received, how that Christ died for our
sins according to the scriptures.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Jesus Gives His
Life for Us.
JUNIOR ToPIc-Jesus Gives His
Life for Us.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Jesus Dies for Us.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
1C-Why Christ Died.
This lesson presents the greatest
tragedy of all time. No record in the
annals of history approaches it. 1t is
in a real sense the climax of all his
tory. Though unique in its blackness,
from it flows streams Of life and lib
erty for all the world. 1t is highly i'm
portant that every teacher have the
personal experience of Christ's death
for himself and then endeavor to get
his pupils to see that Christ's death
was instead of their own death. We
escape judgment because the judgment
We merited fell upon Christ.
!. The Place ". ~.
1t was on hill called in Latin seal
vary" and in Hebrew "Golgotha,"
which in shape resembled a skull. This
hill is a few yards outside Jerusalem.
This is most significant name for
the place where mans redemption was
accomplished. The skull is an apt pic
ture of mans condition as result of
sin-life and intelligence gone, leaving
only the dark empty cavern.
II. His Companions ". IS, CT. Luke
% :33).
Two malefactors were crucified with
him. Their names are not given. This
was in fulfillment of Isaiah SO 10, "He
was numbered with the transgressors."
He was sinless, but became sin for us.
III. The Inscription over Him wv.
10, 20).
1t was customary to place an inscrip-
ton over the cross, stating the crime
for which the victim suffered. AL
though PLATE did this in bitter irony
and contempt, he uttered great truth,
affirming more than he intended.
~. Gambling for the Garments Of
Jesus wv. %, 24).
This was a fulfillment of the scrip
ture, '"They part my garments among
them, and cast lots upon my vesture"
Ps. 22:19. This is an exhibition of
how mems hearts may be so calloused
as to plan an act for present gain I'M
der the shadow of the cross Of Christ.
v. Utterances from the Cross wv.
$500.
1. Behold thy son-"Behold thy
mother" wv. 25, 26). In this crucial
hour he forgot his own bitter anguish
and interested himself in those he
loved. This is a fine example of hui
man sympathy, and especially of filial
love at its best.
2. II thirst" ". 2S). AS the sin
ner's representative, he suffered not
only untold agony of mind, but Of
body as well.
g. 1T is finished" ". 30). While no
one can fathom the depth of meaning
in these words, they no doubt indicate
a. That the calumnies and indigni-
ties heaped upon him were at an end.
His trial was grossly illegal. False
witnesses were employed to incrimi-
nate him.
b. His awful sufferings were at an
end. The penalty Of the unnamable
and indescribable sins Of the world
were resting upon him, wringing from
him the pathetic cry, My God. my God,
why hast thou forsaken me?"
c. The fulfillment of every type and
prophecy.
d. His life of perfect obedience.
e. The great work Of redemption.
"Finished" means more than ended.
It means accomplished" All that he
started out to do was now completed.
+. The Judgment of the world and
the casting out of Satan. (See John
12:31.)
''From this point on there was no
more humiliation, insult, or outrage.
From the moment when the spear
thrust made it certain that he was
actually dead, no cherished infant
form could be more tenderly taken in
arms, wrapped in clean linen with aro-
matte spices, and laid at rest in a fault
lessly clean chamber. Neither was he
ever again seen by an unfriendIy eye.
Truly, as to all sorrow and suffering
and vicarious agony. it was finished"
vi. His Death ". 80, CT. Luke % IA,
45).
His death was voluntary. 1t was
unlike any other death in all history.
By an act of sovereign will he dis
missed his spirit. No one took his life
from him. He had power to lay it
down and power to take it up again.
So shocking was the crime that nature
herself threw around the Son of God
a shroud to hide him from the god
less crowd. Darkness was upon the
land at MONDAY.