Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-06-07
JESUS BEFORE PLATE.
LESSON X, SECOND QUARTER, IN
TERNATlONAL SERIES, JUNE 9.

Text of the Lesson, Mark XIV, 1-2O-Com-
nit Verses 6-s-Golden Text, John
xix, documentary by the Rev. ID. NJ
stearns.
compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per-
mission of II S. Hoffman, publisher, Phiadel-
phia.
l. And straightway in the morning"
Here is the word "straightway" or "im-
mediately" found so of ten about forty tines
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 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.
@ "And Plate asked Him, ART thou the
King of the Jews,n Between this verse and
the previous one read the confession of Judas
Matt xvii $40: and for more full ac-
count of all that passed between PLATE and
the Jewish rulers and Jesus and also between
Herod aud Jesus read Luke xiii, 4-16; 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 more 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 Matt. xvi, 20),
He had now clearly stated that He was the
Christ, the King of the Jews CHAP. xiv, 81,
g., XIV, p, and He patiently awaited their
disposal of Him, knowing well just what it
would be- for He had often foretold it.
Chaps. viii, 81; tx. 81; X, 50, 81
G-S. "Now at that feast he released unto
them one prisoner whomsoever they desired. "
Matt. xvii, l5 says that this was his custom
Lu. xiii, II, says, "of necessity he must re
lease one unto them at the feast" Plate had
already said to Jesus that he had power to
8. "Pilate answered them, saying, Will We
that release unto you the King of the Jewsr'
Matt. xvii Il, says that Plate asked them
whether he should release Barabbas, or Jesus
who is called Christi By consulting a Har-
mony of the Gospels it appears that Plate
interceded for Jesus and offered to set Him
free no less than seven times on this eventful
morning, this being the sixth time; thus put
ting the responsibility " His death upon the
Jews. Peter says that Plate was determined
to let Him go (Acts iii, 49,. Perhaps he
named Barabbas thinking that if it was q
| 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. Acts iv, %, PSI
/ 10. HE knew that the chief priests had
delivered Him for envy" 50 Joseph wa:
hated and envied by his brethren, and Nose:
was envied by Israel Gen. xxxvii, S II
/ Ps. cvi. 49, Wrath is cruel, and anger i.
outrageous, but who is able to stand before
envyT prov. xvii, A.
II. But the chief priests moved the PEG
pie. that he should rather release Barabba:
unto them" Matthew inserts here the ac
count of the message of Pilates wife, il
which she speaks of her dream and urges bel
husband to have nothing to do with thai
just man. CIatt. xvii, 49,
IL what will we then that l shall dc
unto Him. whom We call the King of tn,
Jews?' This is Pilates seventh intercessiol
on behalf of Jesus Matthew states his ques
ton as, What shall do then with Jesus
who is called Christi Until this question i
satisfactorily answered by every teacher anC
scholar, by every parent and child, there cal
be no true peace of mind.
b. And they cried out again. Cruelty
Him" According to Jewish law, if Jesu
was guilty Of blasphemy, as they said, H,
should have been stoned to death LEV. xiv
80; but in Ps xii, lG, it was written, ''they
pierced ny hands and my feet" and in thi
cry that He should be crucitied, they wer
unconsciously calling for a fulfillment o
Scripture; and as it was written that not
bone of the passover lamb was to be broker
(Ex. xii, 40, this also foretold that He SHOULD
not be stoned to death. All Scripture mus
befulfilled
H. Then Plate said unto them, Why
what evil hath He doneg" Isa lii, 0, says
HE had done no violence, neither was an,
deceit in his mouth" They could find NJ
evil in Him, for there was none.
Is. "And SO Plate, willing to content tn
people, released Barabbas unto them, and de
livered Jesus, when he had scourged Him, t
be crucified." Matt. xvii, "A, 25 says tina
before Plate did this he took water an,
washed his hands, saying, am innocent o
the blood of this just person, see We to it
And all the people replied, His blood be OIL
us and on our children. Plate might ais
have added truthfully, If wash myself witt
snow water and make my hands never s.
clean, yet shalt thou plungeme in the ditch an,
mine own clothes shall abhor me" Job tx, 80
ST., for no amount of hand washing coul,
wash out his sin, and doubtless the Lord Co
would say to him. Though thou wash the
with nitre, and take thee much sope We
thine niquity is marked before me" tJer
ii, %. What wretched coward he was
what miserable specimen of man! Con
demning the innocent, releasing the guilty
scourgng and crucifying just man, becaus
he would rather please the people than d
right. Consider this scene and thes
persons and say where you stand an
with whom judge by their conduct, p
late pleasing people, Barabbas a murdere
going free, the Jews all murderers becaus
full of hatred and envy gaining their end
Jesus the holy, suffering silent one cheer