, 1876-06-18
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Of the Cross.
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WHAT is TRUTH

alAx sERAoN-FoR THIS DAY's HOME READING.
What is truth st. John, IS: IS.
The first thought to be considered in connec-
tim with this text Is, that 1t Is question asked
hY Plate, the Roman Governor Of Judea, uf
Jesus, whom the civilized world knows to be
the founder OF the religion OF Christianity, who
then stood before Plate prisoner, delivered
into his hands by the Jews, awaiting Judgment
mto life or death. &c was prisoner, but not
a1iminai; for His judge before whom He then
stood, and who finally condemned Him to exc
cution, bore testimony to His innocence ct any
crime. aud declared to His accusers that he
"fo,,nd no fault in Him." and washed his hands
before the people clamoring for his death, as il
to clear himself Of the responsibility Of she'd
ding the blood Of the innocent. His. wife also
sent unto him to have nothing to do with that
Just man. It was very strange and unusual
question, surely, for Governor or a Judge on
The bench to ask Of the criminal at the bar.
The scene which preceded the asking of the
question is one Of remarkable interest. Jesus
was well-known person In Jerusalem. He
had largely enlisted the popu1ace In sympathy
with Him; for He had often been among them,
teaching them, and healing them Of infrmitics,
and always doing them good; and neyer in His
or unhappiness to single individual, unless
from rebuldng their wrong doing. He claimed
to be that great parsonage which had been long
looked for, which the Jews even lived in hope Of
seeing, the Messiah, the diyinely anointed King,
OF Emanuel,-God in humanity, who was to de-
liver them from their troubles, and their nation
from Roman rule But the leaders of the Jewish
nation rejected Him, because He was not such
Christ As their hearts desired. They wanted 4
King David, to draw the sword, to smite the
Romans as the former David had smitten the
Philistines It is an appropriate inquiry here,
whether Jesus, as King or Savior, is ever such
Is man would have chosen for himselfa The
rulers Of the nation did not accept Jesus for
what He claimed to bei but the common people
heard Him gladly. ~
This Jesus was brought before Plate for con-
demnatfon, ready on questions purely Jewish,
or OF their own thcocratic law. They had al
ready had Him at the Palace of the High Priest,
and did with Him what they would. But they
had not the power to kill Him. What they
wanted now was condemnation unto death.
That alone rested with the Roman authority, Of
which Plate was the executive To Plate, there
fore, went the leading men OF the nation-the
common people, who we're the friends OF Jesus,
we're in the background, without political in-
fuences-and clan,ored for the blood OF Christ,
Who vas their long looked for hope and desire
Of Israel. Plate would not try him as q teach
er Of Jewish heIesy, OF as priest or prophet;
but he might try him on the assumption OF his
being King; for Cesar, as tho Emperor Of the
Romans, who had subjugated the Jews, would
tolerate no King as rival IN Judea- The Jews
II pretensions, but pressed upon PLATE his
ciaims to the Kipgship.
plate went into the Judgment hall, and called
Jesus before him. He behold only man, such
every hour in the streets Of Jerusalem. He
himself was man Of authority, holding the
newer Of life and death, proud and dignided
Roman, Of the nation who were masters Ut the
world, and he the representative OF the Emperor
st the head Of that power. Jesus was IN hum
bic, unostentatious jew, a conquered subject,
who had incurred the cnrnity Of His own people,
and whom the rulers we're determined to put to
death. He had publicly taught the doctrine Of
what belonged to God, and on this matter they
we're now accusing Him falsely.
! ssKnowest thou not, - said the proud Roman,
sthat l have power to cruelty thee, or to set
thee free ~ It was good time Tor acIlminal to
sponded, ''Thou hast only such power asis given
thee By God.'' It is said that Plate greatly
narvelcd that Jesus answered not at all to the
false accusations made against him, and be
Governor SO boldly. Said Plate to him: Art
thou the King Of the Jews !' He was willing
to cruelty Jewish King, but not Jewish school,
master. Jesus did not answer the Governor like
one abashcd, but more like King to his conrtier.
The answer was certainly bold thrust back
upon the Roman servant IT Cesar; we'll might
Plate have suspected he had kingly parsonage
before him. is this your own thought, or did
come one else suggest it to .yous" Plate may
have quailed at this; he may have felt that his
authority was tritied with; but he knew he was
IN the presence Of one who bad intellectual
power over him. His Roman pride Was stirred;
TAM I Jew I" said he, contemptuously: IAN
! bound to concern myself about questions OF
your laws I" "Thine own nation and the chief
priests hare delivered thee to me: what hast
thou done !"
"My kingdom is not Of this world" said
Jesus; otherwise my servants would fight
and resist your power to deliver me to the
jews. But have kingdom not Of this
vorld.'
"A;t thou King, then!"
"Thou saycst that an King. To that end
vas born, and for that purpose came into
the world, that should bear witness unto the
truth. Every one that is OF the truth hcareth
my voice" ..
More than ever confounded at this strange
King the Jews had rejected and thrust upon
him, be probably very earnestly inquired, In
the words OF the text, "What is TRUTH"
There is no record that Jesus made any an,
twer to this question, or that Plate ever learned
Hhat the truth is; there was certainly no Time
then for worshiper Of Jupiter and Mars to
6ea5 dis9usition on the mission Of S9n 1 o. ne
echo Of his own words, What is truths he turned
70 the Jews again, and said, II find no fault In
htn at all. Shall release to you the King Of
tle Jcxs2n They said, awe hare no hing 9ut
Cesar and PLATE out Of Jerusalem;
aud, il Jesus hud led the way, they
you'd have taken up their swords and followed
tim; but when He announced bis purpose 70
found kingdom OF love and salvation for al! |
nat'ons. and must bear with Him the cross o1 |
humiliation, they would not at the invitation
ake up the cross and follow Himi but they |
G1ed out to Plate to cruelty Him. Plate seem
q g to be \ good deal alarmed at the RESPONSE
nnity thrust upon him. Back again be goes TO
me ne1udgmcnt hall, the Governor and the Judge, !
70 plead with the prisoner, not alone Tor the
one truth he had before asked for, but to ask
Kho He was, and whence he came. Some man
" there in that Judgment hall who had the
osine impress upon him; was he one
q 20 be numbered in the calendar OF |
Ihe "gods many" who were worshiped at |
homea But Jesus gave him no answer. As he |
got no words from Him to tell him of the moral |
bond Of the universe that was embraced In that
earnest inquiry of all inquirers, SO he got no
!qrther information Of the person before him,
wno had assented to the charge Of being
King, as to who he was, what King, and over
What kingdom did he rule, and where In the
lnorld which Rome had conquered was his
Throne, whose possessor WAS then in his power.
de Jet marvclcd at the unknown Kings
Silence. silence. And so poor PLATE, in ,quandary
aeTer before known to mortal, who had many
EodS tn worchip I-y1orr MT that he had the Son