The Coolidge examiner., 1936-06-12
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Improved 0 SUNDAY
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-:-LESSON = =
BY REV. P. B. FITZWATER, D. D.,
Member of Faculty, Moody Bible
Institute of Chicago.
G Western Newspaper Union.
Lesson for June IA
JESUS CRUCIFIED


LESSON TEXT-Luke 23:33-46.
GOLDEN TEXT - But God COM
mendeth his love toward US, in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us.-Romans SIS.
PRIMARY TOPIC - When Jesus
Died for Us.
JUNIOR TOPIC - The Savior -
Christ the Lord.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR
TOPIC-Jesus Died for Me.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
TOPIC-The Meaning of the Cross.
1t is highly important that every
teacher have the personal expert
ence of Christ's death for himself
and then get his pupils to see that
Christ's death was instead of their
own death. We escape judgment be-
cause judgment fell upon Christ.
He was made to be sin for us that
we might be made the righteous
ness of God in him (II Cor. 5:2D .
No one lacking this experience can
truly teach this lesson.
|. The Place of Crucifixion ". 33) l..
They led him away to Calvary, a
hill north of Jerusalem resembling
skull. Calvary is the Latin word,
and GolgOtha is the Hebrew. This
Is most significant name for the
place where mans redemption was
accomplished The skull Is an apt
symbol of mans condition as a re-
suit Of sin. Life and intelligence
are gone, leaving only the dark,
empty cavern which once contained
them.
II. His Companions on the Cross
". 33).
Two malefactors were crucified
with him. This is in fulfillment Of
the Scriptures "He was numbered
with the transgressors" Elsa. So :12).
Personally, he was sinless, but he
became sin for us.
II. His Forgiving Love ". 34.)
He cried, Father, forgive them"
He doubtless had in mind not only
the soldiers who acted for the gov
ernment, but the Jews who in their
blindness were ignorant of the enOr-
nifty of their crime. He was alb
solutely destitute Of hatred, even
for his betrayer and murderers.
w. The Revelation of the World
wv. 34-43).
Take a cross section of the world
at any time since Christ was cruci
fed, and representatives of the vari-
Gus classes therein were found
around Jesus on the cross. The cross
is the judgment Of this world (John
- :31.
1. The covetous (v. 34). They
gambled for his seamless robe where
he was dying. This represents those
whose primary interest in Christ
is means to get gain. If they had
had eyes to see they could have be-
held a robe of righteousness being
provided in his death.
2. The Indifferent (v. 35). "The
people stood beholding." They gazed
upon him with indifference. The
great mass of the world today gazes
upon the crucified Christ with stolid
Indifference.
Tho cnnffarc (1-u Ok O0N
a. The rulers reviled him for his
claim to be the Savior. They want
ed a Savior but not a crucified one.
Many today are religious but have
only contempt for a salvation which
centers in an atonement made by
blood. They uttered great truth
when they said: "He saved Others"
But he could not save himself and
others because Gods plan was to
save others by giving himself.
b. The soldiers reviled him for
claiming to be king. The title
king of the Jews" had been placed
over him In irony. But 1t was pre-
eminently true, for by right of the
Davidic covenant, he shall one day
be king over Israel (II Sam. Z 7:S-16).
Through his death, he came into
the place of Lordship over all who
will acknowledge him.
C. The impenitent malefactor ".
39). This brutal man Joined in re-
Wiling the Savior, even though he
was under condemnation.
4. The penitent malefactor wv.
4O-43).
The conscious sinner who dis
cerned the heart of the Savior
prayed for mercy. The salvation OF
this penitent man Is remarkable
picture of the saving rower OF
Christ. The man confessed his sin
as against God and cried to Jesus
for salvation. He saw that the dy-
ing man was the fOrgiving God. His
was immediate. Christ
said To-day shalt thou be with me
in paradise"
v. The Death Of Christ (vv.44-46).
SO shocking was this crime that
nature herself threw around the
Son of God shrOud to hide him
from the goddess crowd. Darkness
was upon the land at MONDAY. When
the price of sin was paid he cried
with a loud voice, showing that he
still had vitality, that his death was
not through exhaustion but by his
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