Jesus Crucified

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 28, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 22.

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“Take heed unto thyself: and unto the doctrine;” “that thy profiting may appear to all.”

Lesson XI.—Sunday, June 14, 1896.

Jesus Crucified

Lesson Scripture, Luke 23:33–46.

33. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

34. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

35. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

36. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar.

37. And saying, If thou be the King of the Jews, save thyself.

38. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41. And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

44. And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

45. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

46. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

(Memorize verses 44–46.)

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

NOTE.—Read from Luke 22:39 to the end of chapter 23, also the accounts in the other Gospels. After the Passover supper, Jesus and his disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he prayed in agony. Here occurred the betrayal by Judas, and the scene is then transferred to the house of Caiaphas. Then follows Peter’s denial of his Lord, and the mock trial before the Sanhedrin. After daybreak Friday morning, Pilate is visited, who sends Christ to Herod, and he in turn sends him back. Barabbas, the robber, is released and Jesus condemned to the cross, and Simon, the Cyrenian, is made to carry the cross to Calvary. Tiberias Cæsar is ruler of the Roman Empire at this time; Herod, tetrarch of Galilee; and Pontius Pilate, governor of Judea. The time is the spring of the year A.D. 31.

Suggestive Questions

(1) Where was Jesus crucified? Verse 33. Note 1. (2) Who were crucified with him? Same verse. (3) What words did Jesus utter concerning his tormentors? Verse 34. (4) What was done with his raiment? Same verse. See Ps. 22:18. (5) What did the people and rulers do? Verse 35. (6) What part did the soldiers take? Verses 36, 37. (7) What writing was placed over his head? Verse 38. See John 19:20–22. (8) What did one of the malefactors say? Verse 39. (9) How did the other answer? Verses 40, 41. (10) What request did he make of Jesus? Verse 42. Note 2. (11) What was Jesus’ reply? Verse 43. Note 3. (12) What change occurred about the sixth hour? Verse 44. Note 4. (13) At the ninth hour what took place? Verse 45. Note 5. (14) What were the last words of the dying Lord? Verse 46.

Notes

1. Calvary.—The place of a skull. This is the Latin term. The Hebrew is Golgotha, meaning the same. It is believed, by modern scholars, to be a spot about 300 feet from the north wall of Jerusalem, near the grotto of Jeremiah. The total distance from either Pilate’s palace or the tower of Antonia was less than a mile.

2. Remember me.—The penitent thief had doubtless heard Jesus teaching, and seen his power. At the last moment he seems to have caught the true meaning of the Saviour’s mission, and that here alone was help. The incident stands alone in the Scriptures, and reveals the wonderful love and mercy of the Lord in an extreme case. It was recorded for the good of many, but should not be taken as license for presumption. Now is the acceptable time.

3. I say unto thee, to-day, etc.—This is an instance where the meaning will be better understood by removing the comma after “thee.” Paraphrasing the expression we could say, Truly I say unto thee, tho all appear dark to-day, thou shalt be with me in Paradise. The original is not punctuated, and the error lies in the punctuation only. Jesus had not ascended to Paradise, where God the Father dwells, even on the morning of the resurrection, when he met Mary Magdalene (John 20:17); in the interim he was dead; the saved will be with him in Paradise after the resurrection (John 14:3; 1 Thess. 4:16), which is yet future. In the meantime the penitent thief and all who die in Christ sleep in their graves. This is in harmony with all Scripture, and hence the conclusion as above stated.

4. The sixth hour.—The third hour was 9 o’clock; the sixth, noon; and the ninth, 3 P.M.

5. The veil of the temple.—This was the veil between the holy place and the most holy. In this latter was the ark, where had appeared the shekinah, the symbol of God’s presence, which none might behold save the high priest. The rent veil signified that God’s presence had forever left that earthly sanctuary, and hereafter it was open to common gaze. Type had reached antitype in the sacrificial system. There was no more efficacy in the blood of animals as an expression of faith; for the law contained in ordinances was nailed to the cross. See Hebrews 8 and 9.

Lesson XII.—Sunday, June 21, 1896.

The Risen Lord

Lesson Scripture, Luke 24:36–53.

36. And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

37. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

38. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

39. And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet.

40. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

41. And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

42. And he took it, and did eat before them.

43. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

44. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

45. And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

46. And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

47. And ye are witnesses of these things.

48. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

49. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

50. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

51. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

52. And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

(Memorize verses 45–48.)

Golden Text: “The Lord is risen indeed.” Luke 24:34.

NOTE.—The narrative between the last lesson and this should be carefully studied. The central point of the Christian’s hope is the resurrection, whereby is sealed all the promises. Note the burial, the resting on the Sabbath according to the commandment, the visit of different ones to the sepulcher on the morning of the first day of the week, the walk to Emmaus, and the return to Jerusalem to the room where were gathered the disciples for fear of the Jews.

Suggestive Questions

(1) Who appeared to the disciples as they conversed, and what did he say? Verse 36. (2) How was the company affected? Verse 37. (3) What questions did Jesus ask them? Verse 38. (4) What did he tell them to do? Verse 39. Note 1. (5) What did he show them? Verse 40. (6) How did they now regard him? Verse 41. (7) What question did he ask? (8) How did he further prove to them that he was real? Verses 42, 43. Note 2. (9) What did Jesus say these things fulfilled? Verse 44. Note 2. (10) What did he then proceed to do? Verse 45. (11) What did he tell them to do, and why? Verses 46, 47. (12) What did he tell them they were? Verse 48. Note 3. (13) What did he say he would send them? Verse 49. (14) Where were they to remain until power was received? Same verse. Acts 2:1–4. (15) After forty days, where did Jesus take his disciples, and for what purpose? Verses 50, 51. Acts 2:3–11. (16) What was then done? Verse 52. (17) How were the following days occupied? Verse 53.