The Mississippi enterprise. (Jackson, Miss.) 1938-current, 1961-03-25
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
March 26, 1861
BY Rev. George A. Harper
511 Avenue g.,
Greenwood, Miss.

John l9:17-24, $3.50.
MEMORY SELECTION - l
am the good shepherd: the
good shepherd giveth his life
for the sheep.-(John 1O:1D.
Christ is the Good Shepherd.
In the Old Testament, sheep
died for the shepherd - the
offerer. In the New Testament,
Christ is represented as the
sinners Good Shepherd. Who
died for the sheep-sinnerS-
all people. The characteristics
of Christ are manifested by
His taking a great interest in
people, loving them, laying
down His life for them, know
ING His flock personally and
calling each one by name. He
does not drive people, but
leads them. He goes before
them, and where He goes, they
may safely follow. He leads,
feeds, guards, rests and pro-
tectS His sheep.
JESUS is CRUCIFIED:
Men had plumbed the depths
of depravity and injustice
when Jesus was condemned to
die. PLATE who sanctioned His
death was as guilty as the Jew
ish mob who demanded it, or
the soldiers who carried out
the order. AS Jesus trudged
up that hill lights we're going
out one by one all over the
world. Finally darkness en-
shrouded all the lights of
heaven. The Prince of Dark
ness seemed to be winning the
day. Even as Jesus bore His
cross, so must we bear ours.
We may observe that Jesus
chose this lot. He was flesh
and blood with a free will like
all other men. All along His
life he was always free to
choose some other way than
that which He did choose. At
ter Jesus had chose His way,
only He could carry it out. We
see that the way of the cross
bearer brings out the very low
est there is to be found in
those who oppose him. When
evil men get stirred up against
righteous man they stop at
nothing to show their contempt
for the right and righteous
ness. We must give up the
wrong ideas we have about
cross bearing. Our sicknesses
and numerous other misfor-
tunes. We must choose to bear
the cross. Now if we lose our
jobs, have our homes bombed
or our lives threatened be-
cause of a stand which we
took for right, that is cross
bearing.
THE SOLDIERS GAMBLE
FOR THE CLOTHING OF
JESUS:
1t was Roman custom foI
soldiers who were detailed to
the execution squad to take
the clothing of the prisoner
The seamless robe of Jesus
was SO precious that even
these rough men would not
tear it.
They cast lots for it SO that
the winner might receive the
garment whole. The Lords
Supper has no automatic Oh
magic power in itself. The
power is in Jesus. The hap
tismal water has no power Of
itself to cleanse the soul. Only
Christ Jesus can do this. Tt
take those things which per
tain to Jesus and leave of
the spirit of Jesus is no better
than to receive his seamless:
robe as a gamblers prize.
JESUS FINISHES HIS
WORK:
The emphasis in these verse!
is upon Jesus having finished
His work there on the cross
Jesus came to reconcile lost
sinful men, with God. He die
this from the heights of Cal
vary. He revealed the deptE
of Gods love on Calvary
While evil men were STOPPING
to the lowest possible point
the love of God in Christ Jesu.
reached its highest point
When Jesus said, 1T is finish
ed" our salvation had beer
accomplished. There is moth
ing more that God in Chris
Jesus needs to do to aztec
salvation for man. All tina
remains now must be done b,
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