The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1889-06-07
JESUS BEFORE PLATE.
LESSON X, SECOND QUARTER, IN
TERNATloNAL SERIES, JUNE 9.

Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per-
mission OF II. S. Hoffman, publisher, Phladcl
phia.l
1. "And straightway in the morning"
Here is the word "straightway" OF ''im-
mediately" found so of ten about forty times,
in this Gospel; just tho word for faithful
servant who delights to do quickly and
thoroughly whatever there is to be done; but
this time it is written concerning tho SER
wants of Satan that they also are quick to do
his bidding. The disciples of Christ could not
watch one hour with Him in His agony, but
here arc disciples Of the devil eagerly watch
ing and working oil night; is there not some
thing like it today when Christians complain
if the service is q little over the appointed
hour or hour and q half, but two or four
hours is none too much to spend at an enter
tainment or evening party, and Satan thinks
it not too much to keep his places for the de-
struction of soul and body open till midnight
or even all night.
2. ssAnd PLATE asked Him, Art thou the
King of the Jewssn Between this verse and
the previous one read the confession of Judas
Matt xvii, $40; and for a more full ac-
count of all that passed between PLATE and
the Jewish rulers and Jesus and also between
Herod aud Jesus read Luke xiii, ZIG; John
xviii, 2S; xix, Is.
3-5. "Jcsrs answered nothing" In the Re
vised Version this statement is omitted from
verse 8, and in verso it reads, "Jesus no
more answered anything" He had confessed
privately to Plate John xviii, $3.50 SO 50 and
now publicly that He was q king, but he has
now nothing moro to say, and to the various
accusations of tho chief priests He answers
nothing Though there was q time when He
charged His disciples that they should tell no
man that TIe was the Christ CIatt xvi, 2O,
He had now clearly stated that He was the
Christ, the King of the Jews CHAP. xiv, G1,
GO, wv, ,2) and He patiently awaited their
disposal of Him, knowing well just what it
would be, for He had often foretold it,
Chaps. viii, 81; tx, 81; X, SO, 3+.)
6-9 'sNow at that feast he released unto
them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired"
Matt. xvii, Is, says that this was his custom;
Lu. xiii, II, says, ''of necessity he must re-
lease one unto them at the FEAST Pilato had
already said to Jesus that he had power to
cruelty and power TO release.
| g. sPilate answered them, saying, Will ye
| that Irclcase unto you the King of the Jews7'
| Matt xvii, IL, says that Pilate asked them
whether he should release Barabbas, OF Jesus
who is called Christi By consulting Har-
mony of the Gospels it appears that Plate
interceded for Jesus and offered to set Him
free no less than seven times on this eventful
morning, this being the sixth time; thus put
| ting the responsibility of His death upon the
Jews. Peter says that PLATE was determined
to let Him go (Acts iii, 13). Perhaps he
named Barabbas thinking that if it was a
choice between Jesus and such q notable
criminal, they would surely choose Jesus, but
he l.new neither their murderous hearts nor
the God Of Love who was overruling all
these things. (Acts iv, 27, 2s)
10. "Hc knew that the chief priests had
delivered Him for envy.n So Joseph was
hated and envied by his brethren, and Moses
was onvied by Israel. Gen. xxxvii, s, IL
Ps. cvi, 1G). s'Wrath is cruel, and anger is
outrageous; but who is able to stand before
envysn prov. xvii, Al
IL. But the chief priests moved the peo
| pie, that he should rather release Barabba:
unto them.' Matthew inserts here the ac
count of tho message of Pilates wife, il
which she speaks of her dream and urges hel
husband to have nothing to do with thai
just man NIatt. xvii, 19.)
12. 'sWhat will ye then that l shall dt
unto Him; whom ye call the King of tho
Jews?'' This is Pilates seventh intercessio1
on behalf of Jesus. Matthew states his ques
ton as, 's1Nhat shall do then with Jesus
who is called Christi" Until this question i
satisfactorily answered by every teacher ane
scholar, by every parent and child, there cal
be no true peace OF mind.
13. "And they cried out again, crucif,
Him" According to Jewish law, if Jesu
was guilty of blasphemy, as they said, H
should have been stoned to death Nev. xiv
10y; but in Ps. xxi, 1G, it was written, 'sthe,
pierced my hands and my feet" and in thi
cry that Hc should be crucitied they wcr
,nconsciously calling for fulfllment O
Scripture; and as it was written that not
!, bone of tho passover lamb was to be broker
Ex. xii, 4G), this also foretold that He shoul
not be stoned to death. All Scripture mus
! befulflled.
II. ''I:hen Plate said unto them, Why
what evil hath He donel" lisa. lii, 0, says
"He had dono no violence, neither was an
3 deceit in his mouth.n They could find L
3 evil in Him, for there was none.
, 49, sAnd 20 Plate, willing to content til
people, released Barabbas unto them, and dt
livercd Jesus, when he had sco1rgcd Him, t
: be crucified" Matt. xvii, "a, 25 says tha
i before plate did this he took water en
washed his hands, saying, am innocent c
. tho blood Of this just person, see ye to il
9 And all tho people replied, His blood be o
lis and on our children. PLATE might ais
q have added truthfully, "f Iwash myself wit
!. snow water and mako my hands never S
i clean, yet shalt thou plungeme i'll theditch an
n nlino own clothes shall abhor me" Job tx, 81
: sly, for no amount of hand washing coul
:, wash out lis sin, and doubtless the Lord &c
. would say to him, "Though thou wash tht
r. with nitro, and take thee much sope, y,
= thine iniquity is marked before ne' DE
a ii, 22) What wretched coward he wa
what miserable specimen of a man! Co
IS denning the innocent, releasing tho guilt
e scourging and crucifying just man, becau
r he would rather please the people than {
right. Consider this scene and the
persons and say whore you stand al
k with whom; judge. by their conduct, I
Le late pleasing people, Barabbas o murder
", going Sree, tho Jews oil murlerers becau
y full Of hatred and envy gaining their en-
le Jesus, the holy, suffering, silent one, chez
IS fully doing tho will of God. Consider Jes
- being scourged; see that saered form. pe
= haps never before exposed TO human ga
70 since Mary tenderly cared for him as an
n faut in her arms; but SEQ him now as bic
,p after blow Of tho cruel thongs plow deep fl
e rows on His back Fs. cxxix, 3), and from
- ouivering flesh the blood pours forth at eve
ry blow; o, my Saviour, thou didst bear it
" for me, and have oft complained when ask
to bear just little Of shame and scorn a
suffering for Thy sake.
u 1920. ssAnd tho soldiers led Him awt
~ ~ Is IS led Elm out to cruelty Him"
D. tween these two sentences comes all the |
IN tory Of Jesus in tho hands Of tho soldiers
the common hall called Pr@torium II
,y smiling, tho ,nocling, tho splitting, the croy
ia ing with thorns-but who can describe