The National tribune., 1889-05-30
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

indicated abovel
SUBJECT: CHRIsr's FINAL TRIAL BEFORE
PLATE.
l. Preliminary
On Thursday evening, March II, A. D. 90,
our Savior left the upper-room on Mount Zion
went over to the Garden of Gethsemane at, say,
p. m; was betrayed at toward midnight;
was taken to the residence of Annas, the
Deputy High Priest, in Jerusalem, between IL
and l o'clock that night; then led over to the
house of Caiaphas, the regular High Priest,
where was held an informal meeting of the
Sanhedrim at, say, 2 to o'clock; then con-
Quoted to Pilates hall of justice the Pretorium;
then sent by Plate over to Herod's stopping
place in Jerusalem at, say, o'clock a. M;
then returned to Plate at, say, 6 o'clock a. m.
2 Data.
Our notes will cover only verses to 10 of
st. Marks report. We can thus keep the better
before US the harmonized Gospel accounts. Be
sure and read St. Matt, q: 1926; st. Mark,
15:6-15; St Luke, %: 17-25; st. John, Is: 80,
40; 1871. Our study may be enttled-Sentence
Ext0rted from Plate
8. When.
The lesson is dated Friday morning, to 8
O'clock March - A. d. 20. That was the day
of Christ's crucfxion, 1860 years ago. The
Jewish Passover for that year was just begin
ming to be celebrated. Plate had been Gov
ernor of Judea for three years, and continued
in said Office seven more. Our Savior was in
his 34th year of life and the fourth of his
ministry.
L. Place.
The final examination of Christ was held
before Plate Nobody else could condemn him
to death. Though the Sanhedrm proved him
(as they said) guilty of blasphemy, they could
not execute him. 1t was needful he be brought
before the civil authorities, represented by
PLATE 1t has been thought the Judgment
Hall was room near the Tower of Antonio, at
the outside of the northwest corner of the wall
of the Temple And yet, for special occasions
at any rate, it may be PLATE had some convent
ent place in connection with his residence.
From the message sent by his wife we would
suppose the trial in the vicinity of his home,
when 1T Jerusalem. The real residence of the
Procurator was at CGesarea, about 63 miles west
of Jerusalem. But, he always stopped at the
Capital during the week of the Passover, for
the greater preservation Of peace, to represent
the Roman Government, and for the releasing
each year of some noted prisoner.
5. Plate
The Governor of Judea was Pontius Plate
(St Matt, 27:2) He was the fifth in order of
the Roman ProeuratOrs ruling Judea. He was
under the President of Syria, who in turn was
under Cesar the Roman Emperor. He had
power to ineict capital punishment, the method
being crucifxion. After time Plate fell into
disfavor and was himself subjected to indgnity.
The mills of the gods grind slowly" and
retributive justice is quite certainty. Seven
years go by. aud Caligula banished Plate to
Vienna, in Gaul In remorse he committed
suicide. mountain is there pointed out
named Pilatus indicating the spot of the self
murder.
g. The Alternative Christ or Barq5bas.
The prisoners were Christ and Barabbas
The one, Christ, had not been incarcerated ;
the other was in prison when our lesson opens.
Jesus had been up all night, pushed here and
there by the rabble-dragged from Gethsemane
and from one point to another of Jerusalem
before High Priests deputy, High Priest, PLATE,
Herod, Plate a second time. And yet through
all the terrible ordeal he maintained calm
dignity, an unrutfled temper.
Something must be done. A happy thought
occurred to Plate It was a yearly custom at
the Feast of the Passover for the Governor to
release some leading prisoner. Why not let it
be Christ for that occasion? BarabbaS was
specially infamous wretch guilty Of insurree-
ton, robbery aud murder. 1t could not be he
had any friends. 1t could not be public opinion
would side with him in preference to Jesus
Hence Plate thinks it perfectly safe to suggest
the release of either Christ or Barabbas, being
confident the people would not rather choose
Barabhas than Christ. But he did not realize
the bitter hatred of the chief priests and elders
sgainst Jesus The opportunity is given TO
select one or the other, when, 10 the univer-
sal cry is for the release of Barabbas and the
cruciixion of Christ. No honorab way was
then left Plate He must abide By his own
proposition. His plan failed. He was caught
in his own device.
Z. Christ's Adpocate
The only one to take Chrsts part at his trial
before Plate was the wife of the Governor. 1t
is said her name was Claudia Procla or Procula
Tradition says she was proselyte of the
gate" Though GENTLE she had allied her
self with the Jewish Church. We read in the
Apocryphal Gospel OF Nicodemns (c. p that
Plate thus addressed the Jews: "Ye know how
that my wife is worshiper of God, and is
rather of your religion than mine" They say
unto him, " Yea, we know it." The Greek
Church canonized her. She was doubtless a
Cody woman, and not unlikely friend Of
Jesus.
She had dream. Various views have been
held. We state several, adding authorities for
each. and leaving the student to decide for
himself.
a. 1t was a natural dream Claudia knew
Christ; sympathized with him; knew Plate
had been called up to try him; fell asleep
thinking of him and plying him; dropped off
into dream-woke, and then sent word to
her husband. (Meyer, De Wette, Barnes, Bloom
ueiu, JUN 11d4isJ
b. The dream was supernatural-inspired of
God with a view to keep PLATE from con-
demning Christ. (Origen, Chrysostom, Angus
tine, Burkitt, Adam Clarke, Lange.)
C. The dream was of Satan, who would keep
Christ from dying and thus hold him from
saving sinners. Qgnatius, Bede, Bernard.)
g. Pilates H'ashbasia.
The die was cast. Plate was outwitted. He
had made vain attempt to save Jesus. He
must proceed. He must be deaf even to his
wife's earnest appeal. We read, 9" He took
water and washed his hands before the multi
tude saying am innocent of the blood of this
just person." FPS, &c g. That was SYM
bolic action. Practically Plate thus said,
81 am not responsible for the crucifxon of
Christ. l cast all of the guilt on you." The
custom of thus symboically washing the hands
had precedent in custom enforced by the
Mosaic law. (Deu., 81: &, ~ If man were
found slain and it was not known who killed
him, the rulers of the nearest city assembled,
slew heifer and washed their hands over It,
We see three results. 1. They thus symbolic
cally declared their innocence. 2. Such q
ceremony kept murder in adherence. 3. The
said rite kept the rulers vgihant as to the
guilty, thus saving themselves $he trouble and
expense of such ceremony. But Pilates wash
could not remove his guilt. Says Owen, "All
the water on the globe could not wash away
the stains" PLATE washed his hands-not his
heart.