Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-06-06
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON FOR JUNE NINTH.
JESUS BEFORE PILATE.-MARK xv:1-2o.

NOTES.-It is of prime Importance to
read the parallel passage. Matt. xvii:
11-26; Luke xiii: 125; and John xviii:
2S 4O.-Straightloay in the morning.
As soon as daybreak, at about half-past
five o'clock consultations
This was formal and legal meeting of
the Sanhedrim with all present to ratify
the illegal action taken during the night.
Bound JeS1ts.-With shackels and a
cord arOud his neck.-PHGte-b belonged
to an ancient Roman family. He was
made PrOcurator or Governor about %
A. D. His capital was at Cesarea. At
the time of such festival as this he was
wont to go down to Jerusalem to keep
the city in order-ThO1t SayeSt.-ThiS
was strong affirmatory anSwer.--
PLATE mGrceIed.-knowing that Jesus
was innocent it was contrary to his eX-
perience that such one should be so
calm and self lf-pOssessed. How different
the stormy demeanOr' of the accusing
Jews lie HSed to release tbem.-What
the origin of this practice was we do not
know. 1t was undoubtedly instituted by
the Romans in order to make some slight
concession at such public time so as to
cOnciliate the Jews to the yoke OF their
oppressors. -Bafab6dS-''SOn of the
Father" Probably one of the many false
Messiahs who had deluded the people in
to open insurrection against the Roman
mon people loved him as brother. Envy,
that he could do what Sadducees or Phar-
isees could not. Envy, because his life
and speech were direct refutatiOns of
their own empty savings and vain lives.
1-CFHcify him The horror Of that
death one can hardly conceive of nova
days. Sometimes it took days to die OF
hunger and thirst and eXcruciating agony
in the blazing heat of those OverpOWer-
ing days. 1t was Roman punishment,
the most disgraceful in their catalogue
of tOrments. When he had ScOIt7g-
ed Mm-The scourging was part of the
regular punishment preceding crucItlX-
ion. The ScOurge was something ike the
modern Russian knot, but the thongs had
in them bits of iron to tear the flesh. The
prisoner was bound to low pillar, so
that blows could have better effect on the
bent back -Pf9tOrium.-A court in
the tower AntOnia where the headquar-
ters of the Roman General waS.--VhOLe
6and.-The tenth part of legion.
INsTRUC1ION.-Jeesu was condemned
as early as he could be in the morning.
1t often happens that the first thoughts
and impulses on awakening govern
those of the day. The Germans have a
proverb to the effect that he who is un-
bearable and cross during the day must
have drunk ink early in the morning.
To begin the day by prayer, as soon as the
eyes are open, as soon as CONSCIOUSNESS
returns. is the Surest way of defeating
the enemy who is waiting for our slum-
bers to cease to begin the campaign.
Plate was CHASTITY example of a man
who subordinated law and conviction to
the acquisition of popularity. To have
ones name admiringly spoken in parlOrs
and hotel corridors for this or that frOthy
accomplishment or for some dishonora-
BILE concession to the masses is differ
ent thing from holding the respect of the
few who are experts in high life and deep
seated morality.
Plate had a wife, who. if she was not a
disciple. yet had the intuition of woman
for Righteousness. a man can do little
better after trusting God, than to trust
good wOman'S intuition.
Jews who were the leaders of the people
clamored like maniacs for Christs ignO-
minious death. Prejudice was a potent
cause. A great many are apt to mistake
their prejudice for the law and the Cos
pei. Envy, and the cause of the antagOn-
ism toward Christ was so evident that
the Roman perceived it. Of all the sins
that come kissing hot from Hell, envy is
probably the worst. 1t is the hatred one
feels because another is superior to or
more successful than himself. Few
escape mild contagiOn of this sin.
He who prefers ease to truth, luxury to
honor, position in society to righteous
ness, popularity to spirituality, chooses
Barabbas rather than Christ,
Christ bore torment and abuse, mOckery
and death with peculiar self-possessiOn.
There are times Qet us pray for wisdom
to perceive them, when silence in abuse
wins victory.
This lesson is typical of the rejection of
Christ of the present age. To tear him to
tatters before an audience, to write him
down in a review, to Scourge him by sar-
casm and invective in private is the same
crime today as it was them,