Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 3, Number 4, DeMotte, Jasper County, 8 June 1933 — IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL Lesson [ARTICLE]

IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL Lesson

(By REV. P. B. FITZWATER,

D. D., Mem-

Lesson for June 11 JESUS ON THE CROSS LESSON TEXT--Mark 15:1-47. GOLDEN TEXT--But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8. PRIMARY TOPIC--Jesus Dying for Us. JUNIOR TOPIC--Jesus Giving His Life. INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP-IC--Jesus Accepting the Cross. YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP-IC--The Meaning of the Cross. This is the grand climax of the year’s lessons. Without apprehending the significance of the crucifixion of Christ, all the other lessons are meaningless. It is not a matter of learning lessons taught by a great teacher or imitating the example of a great and good man, but apprehending the vicarious atonement made by the world’s Redeemer. Christ saves, not by his ethical teaching, but by his shed blood. I. Jesus Arraigned Before Pilate (vv. 1-15). They bound Jesus and delivered him to Pilate in the early morning before the mock trial of the high priest. The Jews would gladly have killed him but they lacked the authority to do so. They delivered him to the Gentile governor, thus involving the Jews and Gentiles in this crowning act of human sin. Pilate questioned him without delay. He was accused of pretending to be a king. To this slanderous accusation of the chief priests and elders he made no reply, to the utter astonishment of Pilate, who sought to release him because convinced of his innocence. After several unsuccessful efforts to escape responsibility, he resorted to the expedient of letting the people choose between Barabbas and Jesus. II. Jesus Crowned With Thorns (vv. 16-20). After Pilate had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. 1. Crown of thorns (vv. 16, 17). Knowing that Jesus had been condemned for claiming to be Israel’s King, they clothed him with purple and crowned him with a wreath of thorns. The crown of thorns typified the cross which he bore for man’s sins (Genesis 3:17, 18). 2. Their salutation (v. 18). In derision they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 3. Their mock worship (vv. 19, 20). They smote him on the head with a reed, taunted him, and went through a process of mock worship. III. Jesus Crucified (vv. 21-41). 1. They led him away to the place of crucifixion (vv. 21-23). At first they compelled him to bear his own cross, but when physical weakness made this impossible they forced Simon, the Cyrenian, to bear it. Christ’s face was so marked by the thorns and cruel blows that there was no form nor comeliness (Isa. 53:2). 2. Gambling for the clothing of the Lord (vv. 24, 25). They gambled for his seamless robe under the very cross upon which Jesus was dying. 3. The superscription (v. 26). It was customary to place over the victim on the cross, his name and a statement of his crime. He was Indeed the king of the Jews. 4. Between two thieves (vv. 27,28); His indentification with the two robbers was in fulfillment of the Scripture (Isa. 53:12). 5. The dying Savior reviled (vv. 29-32). They taunted him by bidding him come down from the cross, and said derisively, “He saved others, himself he cannot save.” He could not save himself and others, so he chose to die to save others. 6. Darkness upon the land (v. 33). Nature threw around the Son of God a shroud; to hide him from the gaze of a godless company. 7. The cry from the cross (vv. 34-36). When God laid upon his beloved Son the world’s sin and turned his face from him, there went out the awful cry of anguish, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” 8. He dismissed his spirit (v. 37). When the price of redemption was fully paid, Jesus as sovereign dismissed his spirit. 9. The rent vail (v. 38). This symbolized the giving up of his life (Heb. 10:20). 10. The centurion’s confession (v. 29)1 He said, “Truly this man was the Son of God.” 11. The lingering group of women (vv. 40,41). Having lovingly ministered to him in life they were now waiting to care for his precious body. IV. Jesus' Burial (vv. 42-47). Loving hands now took the body and laid it in Joseph’s new tomb. This man who did not consent to the foul treatment of the Lord now risks his reputation, and by his action made a bold confession of the Lord.