The Omaha guide., 1947-03-29
JESUS LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE

jesus LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE
LESSON TExT-John 1887. So; 1910
MEMORY SELEcTIoN-For God so
loved the world. that he gave his only
begotten Son. that whatsoever believeth
in him should not perish but have ever
lasting life.-John 3:16.
The o Of Calvary, from mans
viewpoint, was "a paradox. There
Is something startling and seeming
ly incredible about the idea Of n
crucifed king, particularly il those
who do the c%rucifying are the kings
own subjects. Kingship implies
rulership over others, and not suf-
fering and death at their hands.
Plate told the simple truth when
he exclaimed, Behold your King,i
and when he flung out the sarcastic
question, Shall I cruelty your
King?' he was speaking more truly
than he knew. They were. verify,
doing the incredible thing Of de-
handing the death Of their King,
their Messiah, yea. Of the very Son
of God" (B. L. Olmstead).
1. Jesus Said, II Am q King
Q8:37. 38).
Jesus vas before PLATE. The Jews
had accused him OF declaring him.
self to be king (see Luke 23:2).
Plate demanded, "Art thou King
of the Jews?" ". 33).
Jesus did not answer directly at
first. but declared his kingdom to
be mot of this world" ". 36), in
dicating to PLATE that he was deal
ing with One who was more than
an earthly king.
When PLATE persisted, Jesus
openly declared, Il am a king"
The expression Thou sayest" ".
BID carries the thought. ''You say
that I am a king and you are right.
I am a king" 1t was in no sense
q disavowal Of his royalty, but a
declaration OF it.
PLATE, troubled. convinced of
Christ's innocency but too cow
ardly to declare it, hid behind mans
~proverbial inability to know the
truth ". 38), and wrote himself
into history as a hypocritical cow
ard.
What have W. to say-what have
you to say. dear reader, to Christ's
claim to Kingship over your life?
Should We not say, HE is not only
king Of the Jews, he is the King OF
my life?
III. The "riosts Said, 1--WE Have
No King" Q9:l9-16).
PLATE, in 1eshly pride, taunted
Jesus with his power to determine
his fate. He did have much power
as the representative Of Rome, but
power over Jesus he did not have.
Majestic indeed was the reply OF
the King. In a brief sentence Jesus
put PLATE on trial before the judg-
ment throne Of God. Only because
the time h~d come for the Son of
God to die was PLATE permitted to
exercise his governmental power
(see Rom. 13:1). and he would an
swer for his decision n day in the
presence of God.
OF especial interest to us Just
now is the statement of Jesus: He
that delivered me unto thee hath
the greater SIM" 1t was the high
priest Caiaphas who had that guilt.
Yes. and it was the high priests
who declared. I'VE have no king
but Caesar" after PLATE, driven BY
their cunning threat ". 12), had
sarcastically asked them, Shall I
cruelty your king?" ". 15).
The awful declaration which thew
made then was on behalf Of the en-
tire nation. and declared themselves
against Jesus and loyal to the pagan
Caesar.
No King? Countless are the men
and women today who by their re-
lection of Christ have declared that
they would not have him rule over
them And sad but true is the fact
that those who neglect to receive
his great salvation have rejected
himl
iii. Jesus Said, 1T Is Finishec"
d9:25-30).
In his time Of greatest anguish
Jesus. In an act Of tender thought
fitness. provided for his mother.
and gave the beloved disciple John
II high place Of privilege and re-
sponsibility; He thus, as he made
his last request, brought together
the two who in all his human rela-
tionships had been closest to bin
heart.
Ready for the final word before
he died. Jesus received the refresh
ment which quenched his awful
thirst. Then crying out with a loud
voice. ut is finished" Matt. 27:50).
he commended his soul into the
hands Of the Father duke 23:46).
What was finished? The great re-
demptive work. the work OF recon-
Citation and atonement. The Lamb
OF God had made his great sacrifice
sor the world-it is this that was
completed. Our great Substitute had
paid the great ransom price. paid
it to the uttermost farthing,
1T Is finished indeed. Others win
yet preach and teach, and Jesus
will work through them; as the King
on David's throne his regal work
will continue forever; but the re-
demptive shedding Of his blood once
for all is finished, and stands as
finished forever CHeb. 1927; 9:12,
26; Rom 6:10)" OR. c. H. Lenskil.
Hallelujah, what a Saviour! Is he
your Saviour? II not, turn to him By
faith iiIrf nnm