The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1889-06-06
JESUS BEFORE PLATE.
International Sunday School Lesson ~
sIuno q. 1880.


LsssoN Tsxr--Mark 15:1-00
GOLDEN THxT-Pilate saith unto them,
Take ye HIM. and cruelty Him.--John
1915.
CENTRAL TRuTn-Icach person must do
eide what he will do with Jesus.
TME-Between Eve and eight o'cloSe
Friday morning, April 2, AID. 80
PLAcE-Q) The Sanhedrim hall, near the
temple court. (Y Pilates Judgment hall,
probably in the tower Of Antonia, adjoin-
ing the northwest wall of the temple area
In Jerusalem.
RuLERs--T -Tiberius Cesar, Emperor u
Rome (17.h year,. Pontius Plate, Gov
ernor Of Judea (5th year,. Herod Antipas,
Governor Of Galilee oath year,.
PARALLEL AooouNrs-Matt. 27.1-81; Luke
22:e8-71; % :r-95; John 1s :2840; 1916.
ORDER OF EVENTS AT THE TRrALr-In our
last lesson tho Sanhedrim adjourned I'LL
daylight, whom second legal session was
held ". ~, whence Jesus was taken TO
PLATE. There was the first colloQuy be-
tween Plate and Jesus ". o; John 1888
8S). After His scquittal hero Tvs. 8-6), He
was sent to Herod Nuke 2S.612). Again
he was tried, and formally acquitted by
lease prisoner Tvs. 6-o); and while he was
waiting for them to decide, his wife sent
warning message to him (Matt. T:1o). But
they chose Barabbas ". ~. PLATE made
further efforts to release Jesus Tvs. 1910.
Finally he washes his hands before them
(Matt 0:2l, 25), and gives hio sentence Of
cruciAxlon ". 1b).
HHLPs OVER HARD PLAcEs-1. Held con
sultdtton: the meeting Of tho Sanhedrim n
the morning TO condemn Jesus, which could
not be done ct their night session Cast
lesson). Carried HIN atoav: because they
had not power to put Him to death. Pildts:
the Governor Of the Jews, under Tberius,
the Emperor Of Rome. Q. Thou sdvest:
strong way Of saying, am. 8. Accused Of
many thtnaG sedition, refusing to pay trib-
ute, treason against Cesar, making
trouble. s. Ans,Dersd nothing: O because
IL was Of no use; (2) His life was suf.
Acient answer Z. BardbbaG q leaderin re-
bellion or riot against Rome. II. But Ns
chief priests, etc. while the people were
deliberating, Pilates wife sent her warn
ing. IA. PLATE, Judas, Herod, Pilates wife,
the centurion-all agreed on the innocence
Of Jesus. 18. Prstortum: the court or hall
where the pretor or Governor held trials
and transacted business. H. Clothed Him
With purple: the dress of kings; probably
one Of the soldiers red cloaks answered the
purpose. This was the third mocAery Of
Jesus.
CoMMENTs-In this lesson the man who
comes before us most prominently (of
course excepting the Saviour) Is Plate. His
character is drawn with unusual clear
ness, and presents marked contrasts. From
study Of it we can learn to- day many prac-
tical lessons. For the world is full of Pilates
to-day.
Plate knew what was right. As soon as
he had examined Jesus with regard to His
Messianic claims, Plate saw that this was
not o case calling for capital punishment.
So he went out to the Jews, and announced
his opinion that the man had done nothing
worthy OF death. He then sent Jesus to
Herod (the same who had beheaded Johu1 {;
but Herod could find nothing meriting the
death penalty, so he sent Him back to Plate
After repeated examinations Plate still
sticks to his frst opinion that Jesus is in
nocent. This opinion is confirmed by Q
message from his wife, bidding him to do
nothing against the prisoner, because BE
knew perfectly well that bitter envy was at
the bottom Of the whole movement, and that
the guilt Of the accused had really nothing
to do with the case. II over any man knew
his duty, Plate was that man.
orders to have Jesus scourged and cruci-
fed. The cause of his evil doing was "be.
cause he feared the people," Truly Plate
and Herod (who that day were made
friends, though before they had been at
enmity, Luke 2S:l2) were just alike; for
Herod had taken Johns life because Of
those that sat with him at meat, and PLATE
sent Jesus to Calvary because he wanted to
please the rabble. In Gods sight they were
both murderers, and that, too, in cool
blood, for each one calmly ordered his pris-
oner to death.
PLATE vsinly tried to evade his responsi.
bility. He did this first by sending Jesus to
Herod. Doubtless he thus hoped to get
away from the disagreeable task Of con.
demning an innocent man, and also escape
the ill-will Of the rabblo This ruse failed.
II he would find favor with the chief
priests, he must accede to their wishes.
But his conscience speaks aloud and con.
demns him. Then he adopts Q miserable
subterfuge. He calls for water, and wash
ing his hands, declared himself to be limo
cent Of the blood Of one whom he has Just
condemned to the cross. What heaven.
wide contrast between the heather rule,
and the Jewish ruler In their actioni Con
trast the calm hand washing with the cry
Of the hfty-frst Psalm, and you will per
ceive the difference between Plate enc
David.
How strangely and sadly this experience
Of Pilates Is constantly repeatedi II wal
his weakness and selfshness which led hin
to sin. Plate did not sin from pure wicked
ness aud because he loved It. But when Il
came to upholding what he know to b<
right, In the face Of self-interest, we flnd
him wanting. He had not "the courage o,
his opinions" Tho conduct Of David and
his three ot mpanions would have been In
comprehensible to Plate. So with many
young men and women to-day. They am
perfectly conscious of the direction In which
the right lies. II they could follow the dic
tates Of their oonsoiences with no unpleas
ant consequences, they would be glad to d.
90. But their desire 10 do right 10 MOI
strong enough 70 lead them to endure
hardship for oonsoissoe' sake. They an
rather willing 70 "ooatsnt" their com
pEaions. or society. or the customs Of thosl
With whom they associate. 90, knowinl
the right, and being reminded of II, Per
haps, many times, Ike poor Pilsts, thsy ~
choosA thu wrong. hooauao n In thA aasiss