SABBATH AFTERNOONRead for This Week's Study:
Matt. 26:37, 38; 27:46; Mark 14:33, 34; Luke 22:40–44; John 19:28–30.Memory Text:
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13, 14 NIV).Key Thought:
To describe the experience of Jesus in Gethsemane and on the cross in order to understand better the meaning of His atoning death.A man sued a fast-food company, claiming that his obesity, and the health problems that followed from it, resulted from his four or five meals a week at the fast-food restaurant. He blamed the company, not himself, for his problems!
We all tend to be like that, though, blaming others for our misdeeds. But God does not accept excuses; He considers each one of us accountable for our sins. However, here’s where the mystery of atonement begins to appear in its beauty. If we assume responsibility for our sins, and have true faith in Jesus, God is willing to forgive us those sins. When we acknowledge our responsibility, we are liberated from the penalty of our rebellion. What happened to that penalty? God did not overlook it. No, instead He allowed it to fall on Jesus, and Christ’s experience of that punishment will be our theme this week.
*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, December 6.
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