The American citizen. [volume] (Topeka, Kan.) 1888-1909, 1889-05-31

International Sunday-School Lesson FOR
June 8, 1889.


1876.
CENTRAL TRUTH-Each person must de-
eide what he will do with Jesus.
TME-Between five and eight O'Clock
Friday morning, April z, AID. 80
PLAcE-O The Sanhedrim hall, near the
temple court. (2) Pilates Judgment naL,
probably in the tower of Antonio, ad1oln-
ing the northwest wall Of the temple area
in Jerusalem.
RULERS Tiberius Caesar, Emperor OF
Rome Q7:h year,. Pontius Plate, Gov
ernor of Judea (5th year,. Herod Antlpas,
Governor of Galilee oath year..
PARALLEL ACcoUNTs-Matt- 27:1-31; Luke
% Il: 231-25; John IS :2S40; 1915.
ORDER OF EVENTS AT THE TRIAL-ln our
last lesson the Sanhedrim adjourned I'LL
daylight, when second legal session was
held w. u, whence Jesus was taken to
PLATE There was the first colloQuy be-
tween Plate and Jesus w. Q; John 1888
49, After His acquittal here Tvs. 800, He
was sent to Herod duke 23:6-12). Again
He was tried, and formally acquitted by |
PLATE duke 2S:13-16). Plate offered to re-
lease a prisoner Tvs. 6-9 and while he was |
waiting for them to decide, his wife sent
warning message to him Matt. N:19). But
they chose Barabbas ". III. Plate made
further efforts to release Jesus Tvs. 1910.
Finally he washes his hands before them
Matt. 81 "a, 25), and gives his sentence OF
crucifxion ". 49,.
HELPS OVER HARD PLACES-1. Held con-
stLltdtton: the meeting of the Sanhedrlm In
the morning to condemn Jesus, which could
not be done at their night session (last
| lesson). Carried Him GtUdy: because they
| had not power to put Him to death. P1tdtc:
| the Governor of the Jews, under T1berlus,
the Emperor of Rome. 2. Thou sdvcSt:
7
MANI things: sedition, refusing to pay trlo-
ute. treason against Caesar, making
| trouble, S. AnsDercd nothing: ~ because
it was of no use; o. His life was SUI
| ficient answer T. BdrdbbGs: leaderin a re-
bellion or riot against Rome. II. But tho
chief priests, ETC. while the people were
deliberating, Pilates wife sent her warn
ing. a. PLATE, Judas, Herod, Pilates wife,
| the centurion-all agreed on the innocence
of Jesus. 16. PretOritm: the court or hall
where the prator or Governor held trials
and transacted business. H. Clothed Him
,Cth purple: the dress of kings; probably
| one of the soldiers red cloaks answered the
purpose. This was the third mockery OF
| Jesus.
CoMMENTs-In this lesson the man who
comes before US most prominently (o1
course excepting the Saviour) is Plate. His
!. |
ness. and presents marked contrasts. From
a study of it we can learn to- day 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 to His
Messianic claims, Plate saw that this was
. not 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 JOHN
but Herod could find nothing meriting the
| death penalty, so he sent Him back to Plate
After repeated examinations Plate still
sticks to his first opinion that Jesus IS In
. nocent. This opinion is confirmed by 6
- message from his wife, bidding him to dc
:: nothing against the prisoner, because Hf
s is innocent Matt. o.: 19). Moreover, PLATE
;" knew perfectly well that bitter envy was a
the bottom of the whole movement, and tina
the guilt of the accused had really nothing
. to do with the case. If ever any man knew
8 his duty, Plate was that man.
PLATE did what was wrong. He CAV
orders to have Jesus scourged and cruel
fed. The cause of his evil doing was ''be
- cause he feared the people," Truly PLAT
" and Herod (who that day were mad
% friends, though before they had been a
enmity, Luke 1919 were just alike; TO
b Herod had taken Johns life because o
those that sat with him at meat, and PLAT
~ sent Jesus to Calvary because he wanted
y please the rabble. In Gods sight they wer
1e 10Th murderers, and that, too, in COO
III blood, for each one calmly ordered his pri'
oner to death.
PLATE vainly tried to evade his respons
IN | bility. He did this first by sending Jesus
| no
en- | away from the disagreeable task of col
tv demning an innocent man, and also escaI
Il. | the ill-will of the rabble. This ruse fallet
sa | If he would find favor with the chic
oh priests, he must accede to their wishe
an But his conscience speaks aloud and CO..
in dennis him. Then he adopts a miserab
"a. subterfuge. He calls for water, and was
ho ing his hands, declared himself to be inn
A cent of the blood of one whom he has ju
condemned to the cross. What a heave
va wide contrast between the heather rul
he | and the Jewish ruler in their actionl Co
-. trast the calm hand washing with the c.
"A of the ffty-first Psalm, and you will pc
- ceive the difference between Plate al
Ia David.
az How strangely and sadly this experien
- Of Pilates Is constantly repeated 1t W
- his weakness and selfshness which led hi
r. to sin. Plate did not sin from pure wicke
ness and because he loved it. But when
"a came to upholding what he knew to
-. right, in the face of self-interest, we Fl
81 him wanting. He had not 'the courage
his opinions" The conduct of David a.
- his three companions would have been
comprehensive to Plate. So with ma
young men and women today. They q
perfectly conscious Of the direction in viii
IT, the right lies II they could follow the d
lI4o tates of their consciences with no unple;
ant consequences, they would be glad to
30. But their desire TO do right Is
-'o strong enough 10 lead them to endr
ns' hardship for conscience sake. They
ink rather willing 10 content" their CO
TI panions, or society, or the customs Of the
! No with whom they associate. So, know
TAI the right, and being reminded of it, .
haps, many times, like poor Plate, they
ocH choose the wrong, because it is the cas-
uos course TO pursue.-Rev. A. F. Schaufler
ION PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
l. Jesus a King in disguise, as are Of