The Sabbath School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 20, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 20.

The Sabbath School

International Series.

LESSON X.—SABBATH, JUNE 5, 1897.

THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST.

Lesson Scripture, John 19:17-37, 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, 18 which is called in Hebrew Golgotha; where they crucified him, and with him two others, on either side one, and Jesus in the 19 midst. And Pilate wrote a title also, and put it on the cross. And there was written, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE 20 JEWS. This title therefore read many of the Jews; for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city; and it 21 was written in Hebrew, and in Latin, and in Greek. The chief priests of the Jews therefore said to Pilate, Write not, The King 22 of the Jews; but, that he said, I am King of the Jews. 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 24 the top throughout. 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 26 sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold, thy 27 son! 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 the vinegar upon hyssop, and brought it to his 30 mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished; and he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit.

31 "The Jews therefore, because it was the Preparation, that the bodies should not remain on the cross upon the Sabbath (for the day of that Sabbath was a high day), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken 32 away. The soldiers therefore came, and brake the legs of the 33 first, and of the other which was crucified with him; but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they 34 brake not his legs; howbeit one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and straightway there came out blood and 35 water. And he that hath seen hath borne witness, and his witness is true; and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye also 36 may believe. For these things came to pass, that the scripture 37 might be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced."

QUESTIONS.

Where did Jesus now go? What is the name in Hebrew? What did he carry?
What was done to him there? How was his death made more humiliating?
What did Pilate prepare? Where did he place it? How did he read?
Who read this writing? What two facts caused it to be read by many of the people?
What change did the leaders ask him to make in the writing?
What reply did Pilate make?
After Jesus was on the cross, what did the soldiers do? What was peculiar about the coat of Jesus?
What did they say about dividing the coat? What scripture was thus fulfilled? Was this done?
Who were near the cross?
What two persons did Jesus see among them? What did he say to his mother? To the disciple?
How was the dying wish of Jesus respected?
Of what was Jesus now aware? What did he say? Why?
What was conveniently near? What did some of the attendants do?
After this what did Jesus say? What did he do?
What request did the Jews make with reference to those who had been crucified? What was the reason for this request?
What did the soldiers then do?
Why did they not do the same to Jesus?
How did one of them make sure of the death of Jesus? What unusual result followed?
Who has testified of this? Why was this genuine testimony borne?
With what were these things in harmony?
How had this scene already been described?

NOTES.

1. "GOLGOTHA" is a Hebrew word which signifies the place of a skull. The original Greek word in Luke 23:33 means a skull, and the Latin word "Calvary" signifies a skull or place of skulls. It is not known positively why this name was given to the place. Some have thought it was because the hill resembled a human skull in shape; others think it was so called because it was a place for the execution of criminals.

2. "PILATE then wrote an inscription in three different languages, and placed it upon the cross, above the head of Jesus. It ran thus: 'This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.' This inscription, placed so conspicuously upon the cross, irritated the Jews. In Pilate's court they had cried: 'Crucify him! We have no king but Caesar!' They declared that whoever claimed other than Caesar for a king was a traitor. But they had overreached themselves in disclaiming any desire to have a king of their own nation. Pilate, in this inscription, wrote out the sentiments which they had expressed. It was a virtual declaration, and so understood by all, that the Jews acknowledged that, on account of their allegiance to the Roman power, any man who aspired to be king of the Jews, however innocent in other respects, should be judged by them worthy of death. There was no other offense named in the inscription; it simply stated that Jesus was the king of the Jews.'—Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 3, p. 155.

3. "The eyes of Jesus wandered over the multitude that had collected together to witness his death, and he saw at the foot of the cross, John supporting Mary, the mother of Christ. . . . He looked upon the grief-stricken face of his mother, and then upon John. Said he, addressing the former, 'Woman, behold thy son!' then to the disciple, 'Behold thy mother!' John well understood the words of Jesus, and the sacred trust which was committed to him. He immediately removed the mother of Christ from the fearful scene of Calvary. From that hour he cared for her as would a dutiful son, taking her to his own home. O pitiful, loving Saviour! Amid all his physical pain, and mental anguish, he had a tender, thoughtful care for the mother who had borne him. He had no money to leave her by which to insure her future comfort, but he was enshrined in the heart of John, and he gave his mother unto the beloved disciple as a sacred legacy. . . . The followers of Christ should feel that it is a part of their religion to respect and provide for their parents. No pretext of religious devotion can excuse a son or daughter from fulfilling the obligations due to a parent.'—Id., pp. 160, 161.

4. "Jesus did not yield up his life till he had accomplished the work which he came to do; and he exclaimed with his parting breath, 'It is finished!' Angels rejoiced as the words were uttered; for the great plan of redemption was being triumphantly carried out. There was joy in heaven that the sons of Adam could now, through a life of obedience, be exalted finally to the presence of God. Satan was defeated, and knew that his kingdom was lost.'—Id., pp. 167, 168.

5. The consent of the governor having been obtained, the legs of the two that were crucified with Jesus were broken, to hasten their death; but Jesus was already dead, and they broke not his legs. The rude soldiers who had witnessed the looks and words of Jesus upon his way to Calvary, and while dying upon the cross, were softened by what they had witnessed, and were restrained from marring him by breaking his limbs. Thus was prophecy fulfilled, which declared that a bone of him should not be broken; and the law of the Passover, requiring the sacrifice to be perfect and whole, was also fulfilled in the offering of the Lamb of God: 'They shall leave none of it until the morning, nor break any bone of it; according to all the ordinances of the Passover they shall keep it.'—Id., pp. 171, 172.

Suggestions for Further Study.

Has the seamless coat of Jesus any spiritual significance?
How did Jesus know "all things were accomplished"? and how did he know it was necessary for him to say, "I thirst," in order "that the Scripture might be fulfilled"? (See article on first page of October, 1896, Sabbath School Worker.)
Why was John so particular to mention the fact that water and blood flowed from the Saviour's side when it was pierced?
What caused the death of Jesus—the nails, the spear-thrust, or some other "wound"?

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