The Coolidge examiner., 1937-03-18
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Imtroved 4 STTNDAY
Uniform oo-~~-
International CAHOOL
-:-LESSON = =
BY REV. HAROLD L. LUNDQUIST,
Dean of the Moody Bible Institute
of Chicago.
@ Western Newspaper Union.
Lesson for March 81
JOHNS PICTURE OF THE
TRIAL AND CRUCIFIXION

u J,
$500
GOLDEN TEXT Hereby perceive
we the love of God, because he laid
down his life for us; and we ought to
lay down our lives for the brethren.
l John 3:16.
PRIMARY TOPIC - When Jesus Died
for Us.
JUNIOR TOPIC - On a Hill Far
Away.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP.
lC-Christs Cross and Its Meaning
for Me.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP.
lC-Christs Cross and Mine.
The cross is accepted throughout
the world as the emblem of the
Christian church. The death of the
Son of God for the sins of the world
is a focal point not only in history
but in theology. 1t is for this reason
that we give so much study to the
cross and its meaning.
Calvary comes between Christmas
and Easter. Jesus came as tn e
Babe of Bethlehem-God incarnate
in the flesh. He died for you and
me. Death could not hold him. He
arose in victory. He is now at the
Fathers right hand, an Advocate
with the Father. He is coming
again. Each statement is an in
dispensable truth!
The assigned text gives only
portion of the moving account of
the trial and crucifixion of Jesus
but suffices to bring before us in
graphic contrast four pictures
/. Pilate-Convinced but Afraid.
PLATE was in most difficult posi-
ton. To turn one way meant to in
cur the wrath of the Jews he gov
erned. To turn the other meant that
he would be accused of disloyalty
to Rome. He was convinced that
Jesus was innocent, but was afraid
to follow his own convictions.
Many there are who follow in his
steps. They know what they ought to
do with Jesus, but fear the COM
ments of friends or loss of earthly
advantage, and take their place
with PLATE.
III. The Jews-Hostile and Hard
hearted.
The common people heard Jesus
gladly. They loved him and would
have followed him. But the Jewish
leaders, and those whom they had
misled, hated him with malicious
hatred.
They are typical Of those who in
our day have long and repeatedly
rejected the claims of the Lord
Jesus on their lives. They have
hardened their hearts against him
until they have become embittered.
Paul says, ''They received not
the love of the truth that they might
be saved, and for this cause God
shall send them strong delusion,
that they should believe a lie UI
Thess. 2:10, I'D.
Let those who have long rejected
the Saviour be warned lest they also
cruelty afresh the Son of God.
iii. The Disciples-Remembere
by the Saviour.
The thoughtful tenderness of Jesus
in providing for his mother even in
his own hour of deep suffering,
moves upon our hearts and urges
us to follow his example. This is a
hard world; let the followers of
Jesus be tender and kind.
In thus caring for his mother,
Jesus gives thought also to the new
responsibility of the disciple whom
he loved" What a sacred and re-
sponsible trust, but is it not true
that we also are called and COM
missioned by him?
~. Jesus-The Saviour.
To see the guiltless, spotless Son
of God hung on the cross in propitia-
ton for our sins is to bring us to our
knees to cry as did Martin Luther,
For me, for mel"
Majestic in the assurance that he
laid down his own life, he walks as
a King in the midst of all the con-
fusionyround about him.
He was
l. Silent. His enemies made great
hue and cry against him. PLATE
questioned him again and again.
Few were the words he spoke, but
fraught with more meaning than all
the words of men.
2. Strong. All through his life
and in his death one is impressed
by his strength. All too often sacred
art, drawing on its imagination,
presents our Lord as an effeminate
weakling. No; he was and is glor-
iously strong.
8. Sympathetic. We have already
dwelt on his tender love for his
mother. Gentleness is always an
attribute of strength, not of weak
ness.
4. The Saviour. When he cried
! L 4