The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-06-07
Jesus BEFORE PLATE.


lake ~ sA"hs e"~ <~
1876.
CENTRAL Tnrrn-Each person must do
eide what he will do with Jesus.
TiME-Bctwccn five and eight o'clock
FRIDAY morning, April z, AID. ~.
PLAcr-tD The Sanhcdrim hall, near the
temple court. CO Pilates judgment hall,
probably in the tower OF Antonio, adjoin-
ing the northwest wall OF the temple >rea
In Jerusalem
RuLEns-Tibcrius Caesar, Emperor OF
Rome u7sh year,. Pontius Plate, Gov
ernor OF Judca (5tA year,. Herod Antpas'
Governor Of Galilce (34th year,.
PARALLEL AccorxTs-Matt. 27:l5l; Luxe
@ ~. II; 23.1 .25: John Is $3.50; 1y:l-l6.
ORDER or EvaSrs AT THE TRIAL-in our
last lesson the Sanhcdrim adjourned uli
daylight. when a second legal session was
held ". ~. whence Jesus was taken 70
Plate. There was tho first colloquy be-
tween Plate and Jesus ". 2; John ls:33-
Isl. After His acquittal here Tvs. 800. lie
was sent TO Herod (Luke 23:61e). Again
lie was tried. and formally acquitted by
Plate luke 23:l3l6l. Plate offered 70 re-
lease a prisoner (vs. 60; and while he was
waiting for them to decide. his wife sent .
warning message 10 him Matt. 27:lV. But
they chose Barabbas ". ~. Plate made
further efforts to release Jesus Tvs. 12l4.
Finally he washes his hands before them
Matt ~ "a, 25,. and gives his sentence OF
crucifxion ". 49,.
Heirs OVER HARD PLAcEs-l. Held a con-
s~tltafion: the meeting Of the Sanhedrim IN
the morning TO condemn Jesus, which could
not be done AZ their night session last
lesson. Carried Him o,cav' because they
had not power TO put Him 70 death. Pfdt<'
the Governor Of the Jews, under Tiberius,
the Emperor Of Rome. ? Thou savest: Q
-.---- q o~t. om 4 4rrfixFi m
maay things: s~edition, refusing 70 pay trio-
ute. treason against Caesar. making
trouble. 8. Ansuered nothing: OD because
II was OF no use; () His life was . SUI
6cient answer. Z. Bardbbas' q leadcrin q re-
bellion or riot against Rome. II. hut ne
cher prie, q, etc while the people were
delibcrating, Pilates wifc sent her warn
ing. IA. Plate, Judas, Herod. Pilates wife.
the cc~nturlon-all agreed on the innocence
Of Jesus. 10. Prstorium: the court or hall
where the prntor or Governor held trials
and transacted business. H. Clothed HIM
nth purple: the dress OF kings; probably
one Of tho soldiers red cloaks answered the
purpose. This was the third mockery OF
Jesus.
C-oxMESrs-In this lesson the man who
comes before US most prominently tof
course excepting the Saviour) Is Plate. HIS
character is drawn with unusual clear
ness. and presents marked contrasts. From
!, a study OF it we can learn today many prac-
teal lessons. For the world Is full OF Pilates
to-day.
Plate knew what was right. As soon as
+ he had examined Jesus with regard 70 HIS
Messianic claims, PLATE saw that this was
I not a case calling for capital punishment.
So he VENT out TO the Jews, and announced
his opinion that the man had done nothing
> worthy OF death. He then sent Jesus "a
: Herod the same who had beheaded john
but Herod could find nothing meriting the
d death penalty, so he sent Him back TO Plate
After repeated examinations Plate still
Y sticks 10 his first opinion that Jesus Is an
q noccnt. This opinion is confirmed BY I
message from his wife, bidding him 70 d.
i nothing against tho prisoner, because ~
d Is Innocent Matt. 81: 49,. Moreover, PLAT
y knew perfectly well that bitter envy was q
Y tho bottom Of the whole movement, and tina
y the guilt Of the accused had really nothing
Q 10 do with tho case. II ever any man knew
& his duty, Plate was that man.
4 plato did what was wrong. He CAV
\ orders to have Jesus scourged and cruci
Il fed. The cause OF his evil doing was "be
y cause he feared the people," Truly PLAT
and Hcrod who that day were made
d friends, though before they had been .
d cnmity, luke 23:l2) were just alike; To-
4 Herod had taken JOINS life because o
!. those that sat with hin At meat, and Pilats
= sent Jesus 20 Calvary because he wanted =
n please the rabblc. lii Gods sight they wer'
Is both murdcrcrs. and that, too. IN COO
q blood. for each one calmly ordered his pris
: oner 10 death.
Plate vainly tried to cvadc his rcspousi
bility. He did tins first by sending Jesus Z
y Herod. Doubtless he thus hoped 70 &c
away from the disagrccable task Of con
- demning an Innocent man, and also cscap'
a the il-wiil IL the rabblc. This rusc failed
II he would lind favor with the chic
n priests, he must acccdc 70 their wishes
y But his conscience speaks aloud and con
&c dcmns him. Then he adopts a miseraol
q subtcrfuge. lie calls for water. and wash
n ing his hands. declared himself TO be innc
v cent Of the blood Of one whom he has jus
n condemned TO the cross. What q heaven
y wide contrast between the heather rule
ID ana the Jewish ruler in their actionl Cor
10 trast the calm hand washing with the CT
i. OF the fifty first Psalm, and you will pc'
ccivc the difference between Plate an
David.
How strangely and sadly this experience
he OF Plates Is constantly repeated! II wa
his wcakncssa and s~clhshncss which led hi
"A 70 sin. Pilate did not sin from pure wickcs
ness and because he loved il. But when
~ came To unfolding what he knew 70 3
a right, in the face Of self-intercst, we I'm
ng him wanting. lie had not ''thc courage {
nv his opinions" The conduct Of David an
his three companions would have been u
w COMPREHENSIVE 10 Plate. SO with mar
:" young men and women today. They 81
: q perfectly conscious Of the direction in whic
the right lies II they could follow the db
tatcs OF their ccnscienccs with no unplca
"a. ant consequences, they would be glad 70 q
"A. SO. But their desire to do right - n
~ !. strong enough 70 lead them 70 cndul
ne hardship for conscience sake. They 81
60 rather willing q content their cor
panions. or society, or the customs Of tho'
49, with whom they associate. So, known
tho right, and being reminded Of 4, re
haps, many tines, like poor Plate, they Y
choose the wrong, because II Is the east
the course 10 pursuc.-k Rev. A.. !. Schau1icr.
ELI PRACTICAL. SUGGESTIONS.
he /. Jesus a King in disguise, rs arc oft
M Truth, Justice, Reforms.
2. Like Plate, we nave many warnin
not 10 reject Christ.
n Wa mnst do something with Christ