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TH E K ING ' S BUSINESS
SEPTEMBER 2, 1U23 JESUS CRUCIFIED-John 19: 17-27 Gold en Text: "Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst." (John 19:18.)
Outline: (1) Crucifying the Christ, vs. 17-22. ( 2) Casting Lots for His Garments, vs. 23, 24. (3) Committing His Mother, vs. 25-27. Introduction: Pilate released Barabbas, in compll– ance with the demand of the J ews, and delivered J esus into their hands. What an awful night the Lord has passed through. There was the agony of the garden, the betrayal, the desertion, the mock trial by the Jewish leaders and the Roman governor, the cruel scourg– ing, the countless indignities heaped upon Him-enough to have killed a man less sensitive than Jesus. It was the custom for criminals to carry their crosses to the place of exe– cution. Around their necks would be hung a white tablet bearing an inscrip– tion reciting the crime for which they were to suffer. No doubt Jesus bore such an inscription which was after– wards nailed above Him on the cross. He staggered under the weight of the cross, and the soldiers Impressed one Simon of Cyrene (one of the passover pilgrims) to carry the cross for Him . This was an unjust act, for they had no right to force Simon into such service, but the Lord made it a blessing to him, for we find his family identified with the early church. Contrast this procession to Calvary with the one which a few days before had borne J esus in triumph into the city. Now the hosannas are displaced by the voices of mourning women, which affords the Lord an opportunity to prophesy concerning Jerusalem the undreamed of woes which were to come upon it, and upon the J ewish nation, In the coming years. (Luke 23:28-31.)
(1) CRUCIFYING THE CHRIST, vs. 17-22: "Where they crucified Him." (v. 18.) At the place of the skull were erected three crosses-two for the malefactors, the third Intended for Barabbas, the robber, whose place was taken by Jesus of Nazareth. Barabbas had been warm– ly welcomed by the Jewish rulers al– though be was a murderer. Indeed, their hatred for Jesus was so great that they would no doubt have welcomed the devil himself. Upon the three crosses were stretched the victims, but the hearts of the Jewish rulers were occupied with the middle cross where bung the hated Galileean. For months they had longed to silence Him, and at last the desire of their h earts is gratified. There H e bangs, be– tween Heaven and earth, His hands and feet pierced by iron n ails. The people stood beholding, filled with wonder. The women were bewail– ing, filled with grief. The soldiers were mocking, filled with unconcern and indifference. But the rulers-the cultured, refined , ecclesiastical leaders of the Jewish church, stood deriding! He was fair game for their rage and hatred. Had not His words cut them to the quick before the people? Is not revenge sweet? This is their day of tri– umph and-though short-they Intend to make the most of It. "Come down from the cross!" "You saved others; save thyself, ff thou be the Christ!" Yes, He had saved others, but not by saving Himself. He was dying, then, to save others, but none could be saved If He saved Himself. To save Himself would be to defeat the wish of His Father's heart ; to seal the gate or Heaven for sinful men; to shut out
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