The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-11-06
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught By Study of tho Inter-
national Sunday-schOol Lesson Appointed for
Nov. 10, 1890. 81. Luke, % 1926.
Zone reading those notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy scriptures
indicated above.I
SUBJECT: JESUS BEFORE PLATE THE SECOND
TINE
I. Data
st. Mt, 81: 1926; st. Mark, 1865; st.
Luke, 23: 1925; st. John, IS 30, 40; 10: Il.
Ii is a mistake to study the lesson without
critically reading and comparing these several
accounts If one have the Revised Version It
would be profitable TO notice variations. The
first three Gospels. known as the Synoptic
Gospels, were written not far from tho year 90
A. ID. st. John wrote many years afterward.
II may be that knowing n full record had been
made of Christs trial before Plate, he deemed
IL unnecessary 10 80 into details. SITS Matthew
and Mark wrote at Rome; st. Luke. at Achaia.
in Greece; st. John, at Ephesus, Asia Minor
2. Time.
We date A. D. 20. March Is, Friday, carly in
the morning, say, about 10 o'clock. (St, Mt,
27:L) It was the beginning Of the Passover
season, or feast" (st. Mt. % 49, Christ
was somewhat over 34l years of age. PLATE
g. Place
We learn from st. John, IS: %, %. that the
trial took place in the Judgment Hall. We DO
not know the nature ef the structure nor it's
location in Jerusalem. Plate was tho Prctor
or Governor, and his official headquarters had
the name Prctorium Ii has been thought tho
Judgment Hall vas some part OF the residence
OF PLATE, and this view has support To an exteut
from the fact tho wife Of PLATE seems not 10
have been far OF, (st Mt. - 49, And yet
wc are led 90 think more public place filter
for such proceedings as would in tho general
order OF events come before the principal
Roman official. Iealeus monks show travellers
OF today IN Jerusalem the place additionally
known as the Protofiun or Judgment Hall,
Pilates settled residence was at Cesarea, the
Roman metropolis OF Palestine, 10 miles from
Jerusalem. But he went TO the Jewish Capital
to los present at the grand festivals for the pur-
pose Of maintaining order, and in special at
| the Passover so as to release some one promi-
nent prisoner (st. MI, q 10; ST. La, %: ~
e. Prosecutors or Compliments.
! The opponents Of Jesus were the chief priests
aud Pharisees. tSt John. Ia; 81 They we're
/ the leaders Of the jews in all religious con
! Germs. They were represented In the Sanhe-
| drim the principal court among the people OF
| Palestine. Christ seemed 10 be in their way.
| He denounced them. His system OF religion lis
| ponsed with them and hence their power over
! the people and their luxnriant incomes would
| BIO lost. They could not tolerate such inva-
/ sious on their rights and such dark outlook
/ ~ 10 their financial prospects. They set them
selves against Christ and decided on his death.
\ Their own body. the Sanhedrim, consisting OF
/ 20 81 the most influential jews had already
/ tried him aud found him capitnlly guilty. but
/ they had not power Is execute him. Their
! aim with PLATE was tosecure a warrant for his
| being put 10 death. We SEQ how ntimidated
| PLATE was by the prosecutors. They were the
| men Of greatest influence in Jerusalem. On
| the other hand, il would not do for him to coul-
| promise the interests Of the Crown centering
! In Cesar at Rome,
5. Prisoner or Defendant.
The man on trial for lfe against whom are
brought such shameful accusations, is none
other than Jesus Christ. He was reckoned
with transgrossors counted criminal. bounded
by constabulary. brought TO trial. (Ia., 53 5.
| Compare V. 81 lilo was Innocent. he was a
| King ia the religious sense. Pilates wife was
right when she called him that just man"
Isl. MI, q: 49, But no was ranked with a
prisoner. ". 10 Of st. Mt, 27.)
g. Detective.
If the prisoner is a surprise 20 us, 80 too Ii
tho betrayer. He was Judas, one OF The
Twelve lSt, Mt, %: % 25, 1850; St. John,
1891, 90, u 30) He knew tho favorite re-
treats of Christ. He knew Christ WAS on that
very night going TO Gethsomane. lie under.
stood every motion OF Jesus aud could easily
identify him even under trees by moonlight
He could approach Christ without awkward
ness and embarrassment of stranger.
Z. CdptOrs
We read in st. John, 1s 3, OF "a band of men
and officers from the chief priests and Phari.
sees" Compare " IL.
The Jews were subject to the Romans. Their
subjectors had cohort stationed at Jerusalem
III Fort Antonio. These were ready for call al
the order of the Roman Governor. (St. Mt.
q: 81 81
The Jews themselves had temple guard Of
soldiers of their own nation.
We may suppose both bodies Joined in the
arrest OF Christ. Tie temple guard probably
were the real actors in the arrest, while tho
Roman cohort, or detachment from it. stood
guard.