The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-06-06
JESUS BEFORE PLATE.
LESSON X, SECOND QUARTER, IN
TERNATIONAL SERIES, JUNE 9.

LEooON y, oECONO QOAh XIX, I'M
TERNATIONAL SERIES, JUNE 9.
Text of the Lesson. Mark XIV, I-2o-Com-
init Verses 6-S-Golden Text, John
xix, 6-Commentary by the Rev. ID. NJ.
Stearns.
Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per
mission Of II. s. Hoffman, publisher, Philadel
phia.
l. "And straightway in the morning !"
Here is the word ''straightway" or sim
mediately" found so Of ten about forty times
in this Gospel; just the word for a faithful
servant who delights to do quickly and
thoroughly whatever there is to be done; but
this time it Is written concerning the 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 are disciples of the devil eagerly watch
ing and working all night; Is there not some
thing like it today when Christians complain
if the service is little over the appointed
hour or hour and a 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. "And PLATE asked Him, Art thou tho
King of the Jewsp' 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 and Jesus read Luke xiii, 4-lG; John
xviii, %; xix, Is.
-
3-5 Jesus answered nothing" In the Re
vised Version this statement is omitted from
verse 8, and In verse it reads, "Jesus no
more answered anything" He had confessed
privately to Plate John xviii, $3.50. and
now publicly that He was king, but he has
now nothing moro to say, and to the various
accusations of the chief priests He answers
nothing. Though there was time when He
charged His disciples that they should tell no
man that He was the Christ Alatt. xvi, 90,
He had now clearly stated that He was the
Christ, the King Of the Jews Chap xiv, 61,
62, XIV, q, and He patiently awaited their
disposal of Him, knowing well just what it
would be, for He had often foretold it.
tChaps. viii, 81 tx, 81; x, SO, 34.)
6-S. snow at that feast he released unto
them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. t"
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.n Plate had
already said to Jesus that he had power to
cruelty and power to release
o. "Pilate answered them, saying, VIII ye
that release unto you the King of the Jewsf'
Matt. xvii, H. says that Plate asked them
whether he should release Barabbas, or 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 then 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 tActs ill., 13). Perhaps he
named Barabbas thinking that if it was
choice between Jesus and such a notable
criminal, they would surely choose Jesus, but
he knew neither their murderous hearts nor
the God of Love who was overruling all
these things. tActs iv, 81, 2S.)
10. "He knew that the chief priests had
delivered Him for envy" SO Joseph was
hated and envied by bis brethren, and Moses
was envied by Israel Gen. xxxyii, 8, II;
Ps. cvi, 16 "Wrath is cruel, and anger is
outrageous; but who is able to stand before
envyfa prov XVII, Al
IL "But the chief priests moved the peo
pie, that he should rather releass Barabbas
unto them" Matthew inserts here tho 40
count of the message of Pilates wife, in
which she speaks of her dream and urges her
husband to have nothing to do with that
just man. Matt xvii, 49,
i2. 'sNhat will ye then that / shall do
unto Him. whom We call the King of the
Jews" This Is Pilates seventh intercession
on behalf of Jesus. Matthew states his ques-
ton as, 'What shall do then with Jesus,
who Is called Christi" Until this question is
satisfactorily answered by every teacher and
scholar, by every parent and child, there can
be no true peace Of mind
13 Sand they cried out again, Cruelty
Him. According to Jewish law, if Jesus
was guilty of blaspheny, as they said, He
should have been stoned to death ley. xxiy,
10; but in Ps. xii, l6 1t was written, "they
pierced my hands and my feet" and in this
cry that He should be cruci6ed, they were
unconsciously calling for fulfillment Of
Scripture; and as It wss written that not o
bone Of tho passover lamb was to be broken
(Ex xii, 49,, this also foretold that He should
not be stoned to death. All Scripture must
befulflled
IA. "Than Plate said unto them, Why,
what evil hath He done2" Isn lii, Q, says:
"He had done no violence, neither was any
deceit in his MOUTH They could find no
evil II aim, lcF ti9SiS WIS loIc
Is. "And so Filate, willing 10 content the
people, released BaTabbas unto them, and do
livered Jesus, when be had scourged Him, to
be crucifed-n Matt. xvii, "a, 25 says that
before PLATE did this he took water and
washed bis hands, saying, em innocent Of
the blood of this just person, sec ye to it.
And all the people replied, His blood be ON
US and on our children. Plate might also
havo added truthfully, ,ssIf wash myself with
snow water ard make my bands never so
clean. yet shalt thou plunge me III the ditch and
mine own clothes Hhall abhoF mo- Job liz, 50,
S1. for no amount of hand washing could
wash out his sin, and doubtless the Lord God
would say TO him, Though thou wash thee
with njtre, and take tLeo much sope, yet
thine iniquity Is marked before me" der.
Il, 20. What wretched coward he was,
what miserable specimen of a mani Con-
demning the innocent, releasing the guilty,
scourging and crucifying Just man. because
be would rather please the people than do
right Consider this scene and these
persons and say where you stand and
with whom; judge by their conduct, Pr
late pleasing people. Barabbas murderer
going free. the Jews al murderers because
fun Of hatred and envy gaining their end;
Jesus, the holy, suffering, sIlcnt one, chcer-
fully doing the win Of God. Consider Jesus
being scourgedi ses that sacred form, per-
haps never before exposed to human gaze
since Mary tenderly cared for him as an In
fant In Ter arms; but see him now as blow
after blow Of the cruel thongs plow deep fur
rows on His back Cps. cxxix, 81, and from the
quivering 1esh the blood pours forth at every
blow; o, my Saviour, thou didst bear it ell
for Ele, and have oft complained when asked
-. 4.x~& - - a