p. 15 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 20. (5/17/1905)

Earlier text: THE PEOPLE SIT IN DARKNESS

LESSON 9.—MAY 28.—THE CRUCIFIXION.

Lesson Scripture, John 19:17-30, A. R. V.

(17) "They took Jesus therefore; and He went out, bearing the cross for Himself, unto the place called The place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha; (18) where they crucified Him, and with Him two others, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. (19) And Pilate wrote a title also, and put it on the cross. And there was written, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. (20) This title therefore read many of the Jews, for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city; and it was written in Hebrew, and in Latin, and in Greek. (21) The chief priests of the Jews therefore said to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews, but, that He said, I am King of the Jews. (22) Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.

(23) "The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also the coat; now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. (24) They said therefore one to another, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be; that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith,

"They parted My garments among them, And upon My vesture did they cast lots."

(25) These things therefore the soldiers did. But there were standing by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. (26) When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple standing by whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, Woman, behold, thy son! (27) Then saith He to the disciple, Behold, thy mother! And from that hour the disciple took her unto his own home.

(28) "After this Jesus, knowing that all things are now finished, that the scripture might be accomplished, saith, I thirst. (29) There was set there a vessel full of vinegar; so they put a sponge full of vinegar upon hyssop, and brought it to His mouth. (30) When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished; and He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit."

Golden Text.—"Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures." 1 Cor. 15:3.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) In what condition was Jesus finally taken out from the court of Pilate? To what place was He taken? Verse 17. Note 1. (2) What was done with Him there? In what way was the scripture especially fulfilled? Verse 18. Note 2. (3) What inscription was placed upon the cross? Verse 19. Note 3. (4) What made this title particularly noticeable? Verse 20. (5) Therefore what did the priests request of the governor? Verse 21. (6) What was Pilate's reply? Verse 22. Note 4. (7) After crucifying Jesus, what did the soldiers do with His clothing? What was peculiar about His coat (margin, "tunic")? Verse 23. Note 5. (8) How did they dispose of this seamless garment? What scripture was thus fulfilled? Verse 24. Note 6. (9) What special friends of Jesus' stood near the cross? Verse 25. (10) Whom did Jesus see near His mother? What did He say to His mother? Verse 26. (11) What did He say to that disciple? What did the disciple afterward do? Verse 27. Note 7. (12) What is said of Jesus' knowledge of the situation? What did He say? Verse 28. Note 8. (13) What then was offered to Him? Verse 29. (14) After this, what did He say? And then what followed? Verse 30. Note 9.

NOTES.

1. It was the custom to make a criminal, sentenced to crucifixion, bear his own cross, or at least part of it. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all say that they met a man, a stranger, on the way, and compelled him to carry the cross. This would indicate that Jesus had broken down under the terrible strain through which He had passed, and was not able to carry the cross all the way. Luke gives the touching story of the women of Jerusalem expressing their sympathy with Jesus; but He reminded them of the terrible fate awaiting them and their children. See Luke 23:27-29.

2. The minute detail in verse 18 is peculiarly emphatic as showing the purpose to accentuate the disgrace by placing Christ between two malefactors, and thus implying that He was the chief criminal. In this, however, the scripture was fulfilled which says, "He was numbered with the transgressors." Isa. 53:12.

3. The title which Pilate wrote was intended as a slur upon the Jews. He was disgusted with their course, and desired to turn the disgrace of the crucifixion upon them as far as possible. Therefore he wrote it in all the principal languages spoken by the people assembled from all parts of the world to celebrate the Passover.

4. The chief priests keenly felt the implied disgrace of having the crucified One represented as their King, and desired to break the force of it. But in this Pilate displayed the spirit of resolution that he so sadly lacked when he yielded to their clamor for the death of Jesus. There was a significance in this title not observed without a knowledge of the custom on such occasions. It was the custom to put an inscription on a crucified criminal, stating the nature of the crime for which he had been condemned. Therefore that which Pilate wrote signified that it was a crime to be a king of the Jews unless appointed by Roman authority. It was well known that the Jews expected a Messiah that would deliver them from Roman rule, and here it was intimated what would be the fate of such a king.

5. The legacy which Jesus left, so far as this world's goods go, was very small, and that was of such a nature that it was allowed to fall to His executioners. He had created all things (John 1:3; Col. 1:16), but had no property titles which the world recognized, and had made no claim such as was commonly recognized. People whose sole life business is to do good have little or nothing to leave behind, when they pass away. But Jesus left a legacy for all that is of far more value than all this world. He left an heirship in the eternal kingdom for every one who will accept it on the simple conditions which He has specified in His Word.

6. The disposition of His garments was another prophetic mark positively identifying Jesus as the Messiah. See Ps. 22:16-18.

7. Jesus had labored, before beginning His public ministry, to support His mother, and had not forgotten her at any time. And even now, while suffering the agonies of the cross, He disregards His own situation to give attention even to her temporal needs.

8. The scriptures certainly left the Jews without excuse as to the identity of Jesus as the Messiah, and therefore we are without excuse in our day. The scripture referred to in verses 28 and 29 is Ps. 69:20, 21.

9. To those who suffered death by the cross, it was permitted to give a stupefying potion, to deaden the sense of pain. This was offered to Jesus; but when He had tasted it, He refused it. He would receive nothing that could becloud His mind. His faith must keep fast hold upon God. This was His only strength. To becloud His senses would give Satan an advantage.—"The Desire of Ages." What a lesson in temperance!

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We are personally responsible to a personal God.

By Editor

From the decision of the great Judge who tries our case, there is no appeal. The deeds of our lives are the witnesses for or against us. From the seeds we sow now we shall reap our harvest then, whether it be for life or for death.

There is One commissioned to appear for us in that court of last resort—only One. In His hands our case is safe—in His only, because He only has purchased for us redemption from the bitter bondage into which our sins had sold us. But even He can do nothing for us if we have not acknowledged His purchase, repented, sought forgiveness, and shown belief in Him by our testifying words and works. But such as do this, however, are immediately encircled with the strong arm of God's assurance. Then we can say with David: "He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay; and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings." When that is done, the soul leaps out of its chains of thralldom into the liberty of Christ. Then the liberated one can say: "He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God." It is a blessed liberty, crowned with a glorious hope, and filling the whole being with an inexpressible joy and trust.

"Increasing Religious Observances."—Under the above heading the Christian Work and Evangelist notes that the Stock Exchange and other exchanges closed on Good Friday, thus showing that deference to "religious conventions is spreading throughout the country." But all such observances are not for God's institutions, but for the traditions of men. The surest sign, as all true history offers evidence, of degeneracy in the church is the observance of that which God has not demanded, and which has often displaced the true:

A prominent and popular minister in a California city, whose church had joined in a union revival effort, has since publicly criticized the preaching on that occasion. He says it would have been better to preach against the trusts and to have dwelt on themes of special interest to the public, rather than to talk of the minor amusements, such as dancing, theater-going, etc. But the Lord says to His ministers, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." Preaching "smooth things," that do not convict of sin, never yet resulted in genuine revival. To pass over the "little foxes that spoil the vines" in individual character never will revive the hearts of lukewarm Christians, or convert the unconverted. One who has had large opportunity for observation, gives the following as very fruitful themes on revival occasions: "The Unreasonableness of Sin;" "The Dishonor and Guilt of an Unchristian Life;" "The Improbability of Future Repentance;" "Choice as Related to Character and Destiny;" "The Absolute Necessity of the New Birth;" "Heaven Only Possible to Holy Character."

The Natural Effect.—The Chicago Tribune declares that in Kansas City nobody cares anything about the Sunday-closing law, and points out that "its enforcement is only by way of punishment and retaliation for something else." Sometimes the saloon-keepers or their allies, the police, are guilty of some indiscretion which makes the people angry, and then, for a short time the Sunday-closing law is brought down upon them. So it is and has been that general Sunday laws are used as clubs for special retaliation, or the punishment of people to whom some vindictive person has taken a dislike.

Spiritual Revivals.—On this subject Rev. Rufus S. Underwood, of Springfield, Ohio, says: "I never knew of a powerful religious awakening that was not preceded and attended by a spirit of earnest prayer. The great soul-winners have had the ear of God. They knew how to preach and how to pray. In the great spiritual movements that have blessed God's people, the church has always given to her free spirit the wings of holy song. "Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" have been the natural and instinctive expression of exalted religious feeling. In this praiseful service no hired sinners can do the singing for the great congregation."

A law that does injustice to one individual is an unjust law. All religious legislation by civil law-making bodies is of this character. Its tendency is to make men appear to believe what they do not believe; to make men act one thing while believing another. This is what the Bible terms hypocrisy. Such laws, instead of tending to the moral uplift of the world, make men appear to be what they are not, and to act what they do not feel, thus adding immense numbers to the world's army of hypocrites. There are altogether too many such laws on the statute books now. The condition of the world would be infinitely better without them.

The evangelist's work is thus portrayed by Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman: "An evangelist is not a reaper; he is an evangel, one who proclaims the truth. The pastor is pre-eminently the reaper, and his officers and church members are laborers together with him. No evangelistic campaign can be a success unless there has been a good foundation laid in both preaching and praying, and no evangelistic campaign will be a success unless the work of the evangelist is followed by faithful, consistent service on the part of the pastor and people."

We call attention to the article in our Outlook Department from our European correspondent concerning the final action of the French Legislature upon the bill for the separation of church and state in France. The principles enunciated in that legislation are the very principles upon which our own government was founded. It is regrettable that there is such a growing disposition in this country to abandon those principles and go back to the wicked follies of church-and-state union just at the time when the legislators of the Third Republic are beginning to practise the principles taught by America's earlier example. "Keep the church and state forever separate," is the motto of true Americanism. France is acting upon the advice.

We wish to acknowledge the receipt of Bulletin No. 165 of the University of California College of Agriculture. This bulletin deals with the cultivation of asparagus, and the cause, control, and prevention of asparagus rust. These bulletins are free to those interested in the growing of asparagus. We have also received, through the kindness of Prof. E. W. Hilgard, of the Agricultural Experiment Station, Berkeley, circulars No. 13 and 14, the former dealing with the culture of the sugar beet, and the latter giving practical suggestions for the control of the codling moth.

There is no success the Christian should crave so much as success in the work of God. That is undying, eternal. The success men achieve in worldly things will pass away with them and with the world; but success in the things of God will endure and cause us to endure, as long as the universe of God shall stand. Strive with all the energy of the being for that success, and then have the satisfaction of seeing God place upon it the seal of eternal endurance.

It was because of God's unfathomable and undying love, that He gave His Son to die for a guilty and sin-cursed race. Yet how many listen to its declaration with scarce a thought, or pass it by altogether unheeding, and so permit themselves to pass out into eternity without a ray of hope in that God of love! "Turn ye, turn ye from your evil way; for why will ye die?"

We begin next week the series of articles, promised some weeks ago, entitled, "Foretokens of Our Returning Lord," by G. W. Rine. We can assure our readers of something worth while in the study of these articles. Do not pass them by. Mrs. Stuttle's series on "Education in the Home" begins in this number, and should have the perusal of every parent.

The April number of the Carribean Watchman, published at Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, has come to hand. We congratulate its editor upon its neat and attractive appearance, but more than all else upon its fearless proclamation of the message for this time. It is indeed a teacher of the Third Angel's Message—a teacher sent of God.

A most excellent number is the May number of Life and Health—worth many times the price asked for it. It is good all the way through, filled with excellent advice for all who value life and health. Send for the May number if you have not seen it; price 5 cents. Address, 222 North Capitol Street, Washington, D. C.

"As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us." This is what God will do for every soul who will acknowledge Him, and seek for pardon at the throne of grace. It is your privilege, if you will have it so, to experience the constant joy of knowing that God has done that for you.

The Christian minister's power to win souls lies not in himself, but in the love and life of Jesus Christ which he ministers. Apart from that, no effort he may put forth will tell for the kingdom of God.