Why did Christ come into
the world?
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." 1
Tim. 1:15.
What prompted God to give
His Son to die for man?
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:16 (1 John 4:9, 10) (Rom.5:8).
What did the prophet say
Christ would be called to endure?
"He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not his mouth:
He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is
dumb, so He openeth not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment:
and who shall declare His generation? for He was cut off out of the land of the
living: for the transgression of my people was He stricken." Isa. 53:7, 8.
Must not Christ have
known beforehand of these things?
"Then He took unto Him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up
to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son
of man shall be accomplished. For He shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and
shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on; and they shall
scourge Him, and put Him to death." Luke 18:31-33.
How did the Saviour feel
when the sins of the world were upon Him?
"And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to
be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith He unto them, My soul is exceeding
sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with Me." Matt.
26:37, 38.
In His distress, for what
did He pray?
"And He went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed,
saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me:
nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt." Matt. 26:39.
How great was the agony
of His soul?
"And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was
as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." Luke
22:44.
After this remarkable
prayer, what happened to cause Him more grief?
"And while He yet spake, behold a mu1titude, and he that was called
Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss
Him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a
kiss?" Luke 22:47, 48.
To what place was He
taken?
"Then took they Him, and led Him, and brought Him into the high
priest's house. And Peter followed afar off." Luke 22:54.
While at the high
priest's house, what act of Peter's caused the Saviour additional suffering?
"Another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was
with Him; for He is a Galilean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest.
And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned; and
looked upon Peter." Luke 22:59-61.
What reproachful things
were done to Christ while He was at the high priest's house?
"And the men that held Jesus mocked Him, and smote Him. And when they
had blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face, and asked Him, saying,
Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?" Luke 22:63, 64.
Where was Christ next
taken?
"And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief
priests and the scribes came together, and led Him into their council."
Luke 22:66.
What was their object in
taking Him there, since it was not in their power judicially to sentence Him?
"Then said they all, Art Thou then the Son of God? And He said unto
them, Ye say that I am. And they said, What. need we any further witness? for
we ourselves have heard of His own mouth." Luke 22:70, 71.
Having procured the
pretext they sought, what did they next do?
"And the whole multitude of them arose, and led Him unto
Pilate." Luke 23:1.
When Pilate desired to
let Christ go, how did they remonstrate?
"And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching
throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place." Luke 23:5.
When Pilate heard that
Christ had been in Galilee, what did he do?
"And as soon as he knew that He belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he
sent Him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time."
Luke 23:7.
Did the chief priests and
scribes follow Christ before Herod?
"And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused
Him." Luke 23:10.
What indignity did Herod
put upon the Saviour?
"And Herod with his men of war set
Him at nought, and mocked Him, and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and
sent Him again to Pilate." Luke 23:11.
When Christ was again
brought before Pilate, what did Pilate propose to do?
"I have found no cause of death in Him: I will therefore chastise
Him, and let Him go." Luke 23:22.
At this proposition, how
did Christ's accusers act?
"And they were instant [earnest] with loud voices, requiring
that He might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests
prevailed." Luke 23:23.
Besides yielding to the
clamors of the Jews, what cruelty did Pilate inflict upon Christ?
"Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged Him." John
19:1.
What shameful treatment
did He receive from the soldiers?
"And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His
head, and a reed in His right hand: and they bowed the knee before Him, and
mocked Him, saying Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon Him, and
took the reed, and smote Him on the head." Matt. 27:29, 30.
After bringing Him to the
place of crucifixion, what did they offer Him to stupefy Him?
"They gave Him vinegar to drink mingled with gall; and when He had tasted
thereof, He would not drink." Matt. 23:34.
What prayer did He utter
as they were nailing Him to the cross?
"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they
do." Luke 23:34.
With what words did they
taunt Him while on the cross?
"Likewise also the chief priests mocking Him, with the scribes and
elders, said, He saved others; Himself He can not save. If He be the King of
the Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him."
Matt. 27:41, 42.
As He cried out in agony
on the cross, what was again offered Him?
"And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with
vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave Him to drink." Matt. 27:48.
What closed this terrible
scene?
"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is
finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost." John 19:30.
What wonderful
demonstration attested nature's sympathy with the dying Son of God?
"And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a dark- ness over all
the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the
temple was rent in the midst." Luke 23:44, 45.
Was it necessary for
Christ thus to suffer?
"For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all
things, in brining many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation
perfect through sufferings." Heb. 2:10.
What follows from the
fact that God gave us His only Son?
"He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how
shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Rom. 8:32.