The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1942-06-04
FRIDAY: THE DAY OF
SUFFERING CID

QUE EhINO (Li)
/ LESSON TEXT-Luke %: 1916: Mark IS.
i33, "a.
{ GOLDEN TEXT-But he was wounded for
our transgressiOns, he was bruised for our
antiquities: the chastisement of our peace
was upon him; and with his stripes we are
healed.-Isaiah 53:5.
| Dark and distressing days have
joften come upon the earth. but the
darkest day of all history was that
day when cruel men with wicked
! hearts laid unhOly hands upon the
Son of God and cruciied Him. And
yet, by the grace of God, it was a day
,ot bright hope for the sinful sons OF
men, for on that day complete re-
idemption was wrought out. The
veil was rent and the new and living
way into the holy presence of God
(Heb. 1920 was opened for you
and for me.
The cross is popular as an orna-
ment on a church or on a golden
chain, but it is far more than that.
1t speaks Of the black hour of the
Saviour's cry, "My God, my God,
why hast thou fOrsaken me-" and
it also tells us of the One who be-
came sin for us that we might know
the righteousness of God II Cor.
sgd.
Three thoughts emerge from our
lesson.
1. CrucifxiOn - Bringing Life
duke 1888, 34a).
There they crucifed him'-four
words summing up the almost un-
believable thing that took place on
Calvary. He died; but in that death
life and Immortality were brought
to light Gil Tim. 1;1O).
AS believers in Christ, we are in
terested in all that took place at
the crucifXiOn, for we know that
as we contemplate Him on the cross
we can say with Luther, For me,
for me!' And yet it was not for us
alone that He died-it was for all
mankind So we turn to our I'M
converted friends and direct them to
''the Lamb of God which taketh
away the sin of the world" John /
29). He was crucifed that they
might live eternally. He who had
only plea for the forgiveness of
His prosecutors ". 34a) tenderly Of
fers His forgiveness to men today.
ii. RejectiOn-Rringing Accept
ance duke 23:34b-43).
Those who appear around the
cross afford an interesting and strik-
ing picture of humanity. There
were the Indifferent ones, those not
interested at all in who was being
crucifed, but only eager to share
in the division of His garments.
There stood the people "behold-
ing '-perpleXed, unable to believe
that the understanding Christ was
about to die. Verify, they were as
sheep without q shepherd
Then we see those who scoffed.
They knew His claim to be the Son
iof God and hated Him for it. Now
at last they had their chance to rail
j at Him, to ridicule and taunt. More
ignorant and yet equally derisive,
we see the hooking soldiers.
Even one of the thieves by His
side ''railed on him" w. 800, ridi-
culing His claim. But here is the
marvellous thing-the other thief,
rough and wicked person that he
was, saw in Christ a Saviour to
whom he turned in faith, which was
quickly and fully honored wv. AZ,
43).
The picture is thus complete. The
Rejected One is 1.-THE way" to ac-
ceptance for all who believe John
1850. He said, Il am the door: by
me if any man enter in, he shall be
saved John 10:9).
III. Darkness - Bringing Light
duke 23:44, As; Mark 1888, 34).
Physical darkness fell over the
scene at the cross, as though all
nature would go into mourning, or
sought to shield the suffering Sa-
viour from the curious and hateful
eyes of men. Then, too, it was Gods
sign that this was not the death of
any ordinary man, even as it spoke
of the judgment of those who had
laid violent, sinful hands on His
Son.
But deeper yet was the spiritual
darkness into which Jesus went, as
bearing the horrible load of the
sins of the world He "was made
sin for us" III Cor. sgd, and God
the Father turned away from Him.
We cannot fathom the full meaning
of that hour, and we dare not at
tempt to explain it. We can only
accept it and thank God that be-
cause He was made sin for us we
may by faith be made the right
eousness of God in him."
Out of the darkness of that hour
shone forth the one light which
nothing in time or eternity can dim.
Route to Happiness
Tho e